§ 29. Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the absence of proportionate retiring pensions in the Colonial Office, such as exist in the fighting services, results in the retention, to enable them to reach pensionable age, of persons who have shown themselves to be unsuitable for the highest posts, thereby, inter alia, blocking promotion; and whether he will take steps to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI assume that this question refers to officers in the Colonial Service and not to the Colonial Office. The pension conditions of such officers are regulated by local laws, the provisions of which vary. In most colonies officers may retire with pension at 55. In several colonies there is provision, in special cases, for retirement on pension at the age of 50, and it is my policy to extend this arrangement to other colonies as opportunity offers. I do not consider that any further action is necessary or desirable.