§ 2.56 p.m.
§ LORD COLYTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the results of their further discussions with the Staff Association of the former Federal Public Service of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in regard to:
- (1) The provision of a sterling basis of calculation for pensions;
- (2) An extension to ex-Federal Civil Servants of the provisions of the United Kingdom Pensions (Increase) Act, 1962;
- (3) Compensation;
- (4) Future security of employment in the territories;
- (5) Arrangements for supplementing the Pensions Fund to enable requirements for payment of pensions to be met.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND FOR THE COLONIES (THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have had the representations made to my right honourable friend by the Staff Association closely in mind in discussions with the other Governments on outstanding matters affecting the former Federal Public Service. As I am sure my noble friend and the House will appreciate, a detailed reply to all the five points contained in this Question would require a lengthy statement from me. In these circumstances, I hope it will satisfy the noble Lord and the House if I write to him a letter giving a full reply to this Question, and that the noble Lord and the House will agree to a copy of this letter being printed in Hansard.
A reply to the memorandum sent to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State by the Staff Association will be given very shortly and it is my intention that the Association should receive this reply at the same time as my noble friend receives the letter to which I have referred.
§ LORD COLYTONMy Lords, while entirely agreeing with, and thanking my noble friend for, his suggestion, I would ask him whether we might have an opportunity to go into all these matters again if we are not satisfied with the arrangements which have been arrived at.
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I should be only too glad to meet my noble friend. I would say that this matter was fully gone into during one day of our debate on the humble Address in reply to the gracious Speech and also during the debate on Central Africa. If, however, my noble friend would wish to put down an Unstarred Question, it seems to me that that might be a suitable occasion to have a debate on the matter.
§ LORD HOBSONMy Lords, would the noble Duke care to give a decision with regard to the first section of the Question of the noble Lord, regarding payment in sterling, because this is of the greatest importance, in view of what has transpired in some of the independent countries?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I must confess that I would rather deal with it in the manner I have suggested. I am prepared to give an answer to the noble Lord, but it seems to me that if I give a specific answer on point (1) there is no reason why I should not give specific answers to all five points. I may be wrong and I may not have the House with me, but this would seem rather to protract the period for Questions in this House.
§ LORD HOBSONMy Lords, does the noble Duke's reply mean that the decision, whenever we are made aware of it, will be subject to the Affirmative Resolution procedure?