§ 29. Mr. T. Reidasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Colonial Governments have increased the pensions of retired public servants of all grades during the last six months.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Northern Rhodesia, Tanganyika, Kenya and Trinidad Governments have introduced general increases during the last six months. The details of the schemes vary.
§ Mr. ReidCan the Minister say whether these increases have been given to all grades or only to a certain number of civil servants? In view of the fact that the pensions of civil servants who retired before the war have now a purchasing power of only about one-third to one-half of what they had when first given, will the Minister encourage all Colonies to increase the pensions of their retired civil servants?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI will send the hon. Gentleman details of the various schemes. They vary very considerably and any answer applying to all four would be an inaccurate one. I realise the difficulties of colonial pensioners, and the best protection His Majesty's Government can give to colonial pensioners and others is to combat the growing inflation in our economy.