HC Deb 22 February 1962 vol 654 cc613-5
9. Dr. King

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will reconsider the position of non-designated civil servants in Kenya, with a view to giving them the protection and conditions of service which obtain for designated civil servants.

Mr. Maudling

I have nothing to add to the Reply made by the Prime Minister on 20th February to a Question by the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas) concerning the future of non-designated officers serving in Kenya on overseas leave terms.

Dr. King

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the non-designated men were recruited overseas in exactly the same way as some of the designated men who became designated as a result of the Lidbury revision? Is he aware that the differentiation which he makes in the conditions of service, and in protection if Kenya becomes independent, as between designated and non-designated men, when both are doing exactly the same job, is regarded by the non-designated men as an injustice and a breach of faith and of promises made in documents which they have already submitted to the right hon. Gentleman?

Mr. Maudling

I cannot accept that there has been any breach of faith. This problem has given me a great deal of concern, but there is a clear distinction between people recruited for service in the Overseas Civil Service generally, that is, in the overseas Territories as a whole, and people recruited by a particular Government for service in that particular Territory. That is the basis of the distinction and I think that it is valid.

10. Mr. Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he received a petition from the Civil Service Association of Kenya about protection of the rights and interests of overseas pensionable officers who have been appointed to the service of territorial Governments other than by the selection of the Secretry of State; and if he will make a statement on the reply he sent.

Mr. Maudling

The petition from the Civil Service Association of Kenya to which the hon. Member refers was received in my Department only on 7th February.

I have nothing to add to the Reply given by the Prime Minister on 20th February to a Question by the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas) about another petition in the same terms which the Prime Minister has received from the same body.

Mr. Awbery

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the discrimination shown between the designated and non-designated men is creating bad feeling in Kenya? Is he aware that every effort has been made in that Colony to try to bring about a settlement and that the efforts have failed? Does the right hon. Gentleman know, for example, that there is a schoolmaster who receives approximately £1,000 a year while men working under him, who are designated, receive nearly £2,000? Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to remedy that sitution?

Mr. Maudling

I shall be dealing with that matter in answer to the next Question.

11. Mr. Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that designated officers of the Kenya Civil Service receive in pay and emoluments more than twice the amount paid annually to non-designated officers who perform the same class of duty, that Asian schoolmasters who are not designated have serving under them designated officers with higher pay, and that this fact creates uneasiness among civil servants; if he will take steps to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maudling

Basic salaries in Kenya are common to all serving officers. They were fixed last year on the basis of the Report of the Flemming Commission. Designated officers receive in addition an inducement allowance of about 40 per cent. to 50 per cent. of basic salary, plus education allowances and leave passages, all paid for by Her Majesty's Government under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme. This makes it possible for some junior officers, if designated, to receive more than some senior officers, if they are not designated. These arrangements were approved by the House when it passed the Overseas Service Act in 1961.

Mr. Awbery

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a Press release by the Ministry in 1960 an undertaking was given about the position of non-designated men but apparently it has not been carried out? What does the right hon. Gentleman intend to do about it?

Mr. Maudling

I am not aware of that Press release. If the hon. Member will kindly send it to me, I will certainly study it to ensure that nothing has been done which is inconsistent with what we have said in the past.

Dr. King

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the replies which the Prime Minister gave to representations made to him earlier this week seem much more sympathetic than what the right hon. Gentleman has said today? Will he look carefully into the position as put to him by these men?

Mr. Maudling

I have looked into it closely. I have received deputations and I have been concerned about the matter. After seeing the deputations, I have recommended certain courses to the Governments of these Territories. If they do not accept my representations there is nothing I can do about it, because it is their responsibility to decide what the settlement should be.

Mr. Wall

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that in the talks which be had with the staff association in November he agreed that if there should be a major change in the situation—and this action by these Governments is a major change—he would reconvene that conference?

Mr. Maudling

I shall have to look at the record, but I do not recall giving any such undertaking. I think that I have made it clear that, whatever I think to be the right thing, the final decision does not rest with me but with the Governments of the Territories.

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