§ 43. Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that at the time the rehabilitation grant was made to Asiatic Government servants in Malaya by the British Military Administration under M.U. circular 130/46 and 131/46, it was stated that these grants would not be recovered except from Government servants who were convicted of collaboration with the enemy; and why these sums have been deducted from the grants now being made for back pay during the period of occupation.
Mr. Creech JonesThese grants were originally intended to represent a settlement of the question of back pay during the period of occupation. There is no question of recovering them, but it is reasonable that they should be taken into account in the much more generous settlement recently decided upon.
§ Mr. GammansIs the Minister aware that there is still considerable dissatisfaction amongst the junior Civil Service in Malaya about the settlement generally, and will he say if he can do anything to allay that dissatisfaction?
Mr. Creech JonesThere is much misunderstanding, but I think that everyone is agreed that it is a generous settlement.