The ICBP reply was ; “NO you can’t, your only a few in number and you don’t contribute”.
So we were discriminated against because of our size, by the group campaigning against discrimination. The courts had declared cost was not an acceptable excuse for discrimination. So if we did not pay we could not join. (incidentally we had already started joining BPiA by the time we got the ICBP reply).
Now we were not concerned about paying a fee as obviously legal costs were likely to be involved at some point. However, as it turned out, our concern over not being a group in its own rights, was very justified. Appointed as BPiA representative in Indonesia during 8 or 9 years as the rep WE WERE NEVER ONCE ASKED FOR INFORMATION OR VIEWS/COMMENTS AS BPIA MEMBERS IN INDONESIA BY THE BPIA CHAIR OR COMMITTEE.
We received an email from the BPiA chair that advised u that he could not be bothered answering our questions as he was far too busy with HIS OWN MEMBERS IN AUSTRALIA. That did quite understandably concern us.
(there are other incidents with the ICBP and groups but they would distract from the comments to follow).
TODAY,( not 10 years ago), the BPiA chairmans email says: “BPIA IS BIGGER THAN BAPA so they,(BAPA) should join BPiA and ITS contemplation of legal action. The web site says “BPa’s mission is ”Fair Play for British Pension in Australia”. At least BAPA members in Australia wont go unanswered. Will BAPA members not living in Australia be answered? BAPA was the first organised campaigning group. It was broken up by school boy argument to whether they should have an annual fee or just a joining fee. In the meanwhile the 200,000 FP had to sit back and twiddle their thumbs waiting to be remembered. Further on in time a combined group of campaigners split up over the bigger two groups demanding a bigger share of votes. Further on in time again the members of the ICBP board split up over the ICBP chair accepted the gov’t suggestion of partial uprating going forwards as a step towards parity. The members were not consulted what so ever on that boards, (part of), decision.
For 76 years the FP policy or its MO has not changed. For 25+ years none of the campaigning groups have forced any changes in that policy!
If the meetings in London have not achieved any action on the policy why, when we are told of the so good zoom meetings, is more money going to be wasted on fruitless trips to London rather than setting up a fund for legal cost donated by the various groups into one army’s fund? The ICBP board construction needs a big change. The knowledgeable and action type people need to be up on the front line.
The FP is just one of the many issues within the SP farce. One army needs to be the weapon to win the protection, security and survival of the DLG assured pension for all.Hi Everyone!
I've just approved a post from Clive Walford. As Clive's post
makes a lot of comments about BPiA and the ICBP, I thought that it
was important to give BPiA a chance to respond, and that is why it
has taken a few days to approve the post.
If you haven't seen Clive's post, it is probably in your inbox
dated 1 October 2022, or you can read it at
https://groups.google.com/g/bapanews/c/QcXoB2Ibgz8/m/9RP6Rn_NBwAJ
This is what Patrick Edwards, the current President of BPiA, has asked me to post in response on his behalf:
I am President of BPiA and have been President for the past two years. I have been a member of the ICBP board whilst President of BPiA.
I am not aware of Mr. Walford’s past experience as a member of BPiA. I apologise if it has been less than satisfactory. As President of BPiA, I always provide prompt answers to all questions raised by BPiA members.
Whilst the bulk of BPiA members live in Australia, we have members in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the UK. I believe they are – and continue to be – members because BPiA is doing a good job fighting to end the UK’s frozen pensions policy. It is true our campaign has been going for over twenty years without a change in that policy but does not mean we should give up. It means we should redouble our efforts and find new and innovative ways to further our campaign.
I support BAPA’s continued presence as a separate body. I believe there is room for more than one entity fighting to end the frozen pension’s policy and welcome a diversity of opinions in furtherance of that campaign. As an example of BPiA’s support of BAPA, we assisted Paul in his recent Freedom of Information request.
BPiA members receive access to the members only section of the BPiA website including access to Fact Sheets relating to UK state pension and national insurance. They can obtain guidance on how to maximise their pension entitlement. BPiA members with email addresses receive a monthly newsletter providing timely information on our efforts on their behalf. All BPiA members receive a quarterly magazine “Fair Play”, which also contains information on our campaign and interesting articles on a variety of topics. For example, recent editions included articles comparing state pension schemes around the world, the history of national insurance, enduring powers of attorney, living in Thailand on a frozen pension and the Chanak Affair. We have included articles on medical conditions that affect older people such as diabetes and stroke.
BPiA is active in pursing the campaign to end frozen pensions both directly and through its participation in ICBP. For example, in the past three months, we have achieved over twenty mentions in the national press in the UK and one session on BBC TV news. We provide secretarial support to the APPG on frozen pensions. The APPG on frozen pensions continues to grow with new MPs joining each month. Our members have delivered publications and letters in person to 10 Downing Street. We recently made a written submission to the JSCOT review of the Australia – UK Free Trade Agreement. We have written to every MP in the UK explaining the frozen pension issue to them. Following the recent federal election in Australia we sent an information pack to every new and returning member of the House of Representatives and every Senator in Australia. We obtained a statement from the Minister for Social Services that the frozen pensions policy is costing the Australian taxpayer $110 million a year. We made a Freedom of Information request that revealed that the Morrison government never made representations on behalf of recipients of frozen pensions in Australia.
I do not know why Mr. Walford says that TODAY, he has received an email from the BPiA Chairman. BPiA has not had a Chairman since I took over two years ago as I have adopted the title “President” to be consistent with the New South Wales legislation under which BPiA is incorporated. In any case, I have never written to Mr. Walford.
Zoom is a very useful tool for people separated by distance enabling them to meet more effectively than just using the telephone and far cheaper than physical meetings. Whilst Zoom is always a second best to physical meetings, we will continue to use it for our regular meetings. ICBP representatives plan to meet in London in November. We have meetings and planned activities scheduled in London that will gain publicity for our campaign and will bring further pressure on the UK government to change its frozen pension policy. Further details will be announced when appropriate.
If Mr. Walford and any other BAPA members have practical suggestions for obtaining a change in the UK government’s frozen pensions policy, I’d be glad to hear them. In the meanwhile, we’d love to have you as members of BPiA.
Regards,
Please let us know what you think by posting here. Hopefully we
can get some good ideas out of this.
BPiA's web site is https://bpia.org.au/ and you can contact Patrick via https://bpia.org.au/about-bpia/contact-us/
The ICBP's web site is https://pensionsjustice.org/
Paul
Could someone kindly update me with requirements to have the pension uprated while in the UK?
Minimum duration of stay?
Does the DPW need to be notifying before stay commences or on entry?
Do they accept email/phone/letter notifications?
Proof of visit ie copies of boarding passes/itinerary?
The answers to these questions were not discovered on their website.
Many thanks
David
--
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