§ 32. Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the total service in Sarawak for which Mr. MacBryan was paid a pension of £1,400 a year; what were the claims for which the annuity of £900 a year was in settlement; and what is the highest pension hitherto paid to any member of the Sarawak Government.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsAccording to my information, Mr. MacBryan served the Rajah and his government between 1920 and 1946 for various periods amounting to about 12 years; the annuity of £900 is in settlement of a claim by Mr. MacBryan under an agreement executed by the Rajah before the cession to pay him £1,400 a year for life out of Government funds; the highest pension hitherto paid to a Sarawak official is £1,186 4s. 4d.
§ Mr. GammansWhat is behind this extraordinary business? Is not Mr. MacBryan, for his 12 years' service, getting at least three times as much pension as an ordinary member of the Sarawak Service? Was not the obligation to pay this pension by the Rajah taken into account when a financial settlement was made by Rajah Brooke?
§ Mr. GriffithsThe pension now being paid to Mr. MacBryan was settled with him after negotiation.
§ 39. Mr. Fortasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will explain the refusal of the Kenya Government to grant Mr. F. Hewitt, 53, Victoria Road, Padiham, a pension of £374 a year, based upon the salary of £660, which he actually earned as a senior health inspector; and if he will take steps to have this decision reversed.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsUp to 1948, Mr. Hewitt's pensionable emoluments were £660 plus £81 house allowance. His pension has, in fact, been awarded on the basis of increased pensionable emoluments of £840 in consequence of the post-war revision of salaries. I am aware that he considers that his salary should have been converted to a higher figure, but neither I nor the Government of Kenya have been able to accept his contention.
§ Mr. FortIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Hewitt served the Kenya Government for 23 years, ending up as a senior health inspector, and that the result of the Kenya Government's decision after his many years' service has been to reduce his pension by a mere £20 or so a year, and could the Minister see his way to rewarding this man fully for his many years' service in Kenya?
§ Mr. GriffithsI have gone into this matter very fully. I am satisfied that this man has been awarded the right pension. The matter has a long history—far too long to be dealt with adequately by question and answer. If the hon. Member would care to write to me, I will let him have very much fuller information.