HC Deb 04 May 1949 vol 464 c1013
36. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further attention has been given to the need of increasing pension rates for retired colonial civil servants and their dependants in view of the hardship now being experienced by many of them.

Mr. Rees-Williams

Colonial Governments were invited to revise their pension increase schemes to conform to the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1947, of this country, and most of them have done so. No further general increase is at present proposed.

Mr. Sorensen

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is still great hardship? Cannot some action be taken by which all the various Colonial Governments are brought into line to meet what is admittedly a very grave hardship?

Mr. Rees-Williams

Most of them have, and we are constantly making suggestions to those who have not come into line to do so.

Mr. Sorensen

Could the Under-Secretary say what percentage increase has been allowed?

Mr. Rees-Williams

Not without notice.