HC Deb 27 March 1962 vol 656 cc1003-6
32. Mr. Tilney

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what is the average pension paid through the Crown Agents to the widows of pensioners of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service and former members of the Colonial Service who retired before any post-war salary increases were granted by the employing Governments.

Mr. Vosper

The average pension granted before the first post-war salary increases paid through the Crown Agents to widows of Colonial Service officers who served under the Governments of dependent territories is £249. This figure represents basic pension only and does not take account of pensions increases awarded by the various Governments concerned. I regret that I am not in a position to supply an average figure in respect of widows' pensions paid by independent Commonwealth and foreign countries.

Mr. Tilney

As the widow's pension stems from an unfunded compulsory payment by the late husband, does not my right hon. Friend think that this amount is fairly small, and does not he agree that within the average there are figures as low as £72 for the High Commission Territories, and as much as £400 in respect of service under more than one Government? Does not my right hon. Friend think it possible to balance out this payment in some way?

Mr. Vosper

I accept much of what my hon. Friend has said. The figure I have given is the basic figure without the increase given in many cases. It still remains a fact that in some cases Governments have not given increases that the pensioners deserve.

33. Mr. Tilney

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what is the average pension paid through the Crown Agents to pensioners of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service and former members of the Colonial Service who retired before any post-war salary increases were granted by the employing Governments.

Mr. Vosper

The average basic pension paid through the Crown Agents to overseas service pensioners of dependent territories who retired before the first post-war salaries revision is £393. I regret that I am not in a position to give an average figure in respect of pensions paid by independent Commonwealth and foreign countries.

Mr. Tilney

Does my right hon. Friend agree that within this figure the average for Brunei is as low as £73 whereas in North Borneo next door it is as much as £474? Is not this rather odd? Further, will he bear in mind, when any money is likely to be lent or given to countries such as Ghana or Ceylon, that they have made no effort at all to look after their ex-servants?

Mr. Vosper

I agree that the average figure is most misleading, but it was my hon. Friend who chose to put the Question in this form. The latter part of his supplementary question raises wider implications, but I have noted his Motion on the Order Paper.

Mr. G. M. Thomson

Is it not time that the Government looked afresh at the whole question of pensions paid to Overseas Civil Service pensioners in this country? Are not many of these pensions grossly inadequate now, and does not the right hon. Gentleman, as the Minister responsible for technical assistance, feel that he is embarrassed by the constant friction caused on these questions with the new Commonwealth countries?

Mr. Vosper

I accept that there is a problem here, but, of course, there are advantages and disadvantages in the present system which has been an established part of pensions policy under many Governments for many years. It is the policy that overseas Governments who pay the salaries pay the pensions of those who retire.

Dame Irene Ward

How many times has my right hon. Friend been to the Chancellor of the Exchequer demanding that something be done for these people? How often must democracy make itself vocal on the matter before the Executive can act?

Mr. Vosper

I can easily answer that. I have only just taken over responsibility for this matter, and the answer is, therefore, "None".

37. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if he

INCREASES OF OVERSEAS SERVICE PENSIONS BASED ON £100 PENSION COMMENCING JANUARY, 1953
Year Aden (a) B. Guiana (a) Cyprus E.A.C.S.O. Kenya, Tanganyika Uganda, Zanzibar (a) Ghana Hong Kong (a) Jamaica (a)
1953 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
1954 136 150 100 129 100 100 100
1955 136 150 100 129 100 100 100
1956 136 150 115 129 100 100 150
1957 165 150 126 129 100 100 150
1958 165 150 126 142 100 116 150
1959 165 150 139 142 100 116 150
1960 165 150 139 142 100 144 150
1961 190 150 139 142 100 144 150
1962 190 150 139 142 100 144 150

will give the percentage increases in pensions under the United Kingdom Pensions (Increase) Acts for overseas pensions, country by country and year by year, from 1953.

Mr. Vosper

The pensions of retired members of the overseas services are not increasable under the United Kingdom Pensions (Increase) Acts.

Dame Irene Ward

Will my right hon. Friend publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT all the figures in the table which he sent to me? Further, after he has had a chance of studying them, when will he go to the Treasury?

Mr. Vosper

I can arrange for those figures to be published. On the latter part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I want to give further consideration to this whole problem.

Following are the figures: