HC Deb 26 July 1935 vol 304 cc2267-8

Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 69.

[Sir DENNIS HERBERT in the Chair.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That it is expedient to amend the Pensions (Governors of Dominions, etc.) Acts, 1911 and 1929, by making provision—

  1. (1) with respect to the nature and period of service qualifying persons for the grant of pensions under section one of the Pensions (Governors of Dominions, etc.) Act, 1911;
  2. (2) with respect to the meaning of the expression service in the permanent Civil Service of the State'; and
  3. (3) for granting in certain circumstances to persons who, after serving as Governors within the meaning of the said Act, have served in the office of Governor-General of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, pensions in respect of their service as such Governors and in respect of their employment (if any) in service in the permanent Civil Service of the State within the meaning of the said Acts as amended in pursuance of this Resolution;
and to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of the sums required to defray such expenditure as may be occasioned by the said amendments."—(King's Recommendation Signified)—[Mr. MacDonald.]

3.52 p.m.

The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)

In moving the acceptance of the Resolution I will explain in a few sentences the purpose of our proposal. A great many Governors have had terms of service in the Civil Service. At present as Governors they are entitled to special rates of pension, but they do not qualify for those special rates until they have served for at least 10 years as Governors. That is to say, they do not get any advantage in regard to pensions from their promotion until 10 years have elapsed, whereas if they have refused the offer of a Governorship and in the normal course of events have received promotion in the Civil Service, they have qualified straight away for an advance in pensions. That situation leads in some cases to a risk of men of comparatively poor means having to refuse Governorships because of financial considerations. I should be prepared to explain the point at greater length in other circumstances, but there will be other opportunities for doing that. Perhaps with this short explanation of the main point of our proposal I might ask the Committee to let us have the Resolution.

Mr. LANSBURY

It is obvious that if this Resolution is to get through to-day no one must make a speech. I only wish to say that when the Bill founded on the Resolution is introduced we shall hope to have time to discuss the matter. With that reservation, I support the passing of the Resolution.

Sir ROBERT HAMILTON

I do not think the Committee need hesitate to allow this financial resolution to go through. The Bill that will be founded on it is merely to fill up certain gaps in legislation already passed.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported upon Monday next.