HC Deb 07 May 1964 vol 694 cc1433-4
14 and 15. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation (1) what payment, other than earned pension, is being offered to designated and to non-designated officers, respectively, in Nyasaland who are no longer required after independence; and approximately how many officers there are in each category;

(2) what compensation is being offered to non-designated British civil servants in Nyasaland whose posts are redundant on independence or whose services are not required after independence by the Nyasaland Government.

Mr. R. Carr

There are approximately 600 designated officers still serving in Nyasaland and 16 non-designated officers on overseas terms of service. A general compensation scheme for designated officers is already in force and I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations that the Nyasaland Government is about to introduce a retirement benefits scheme for the non-designated officers. I will, with permission, circulate brief details of these schemes in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Wall

My right hon. Friend has said that there are only 16 non-designated officers. Would he look at the difference between the terms offered to designated and non-designated officers and try to be more generous to the non-designated officers? Is he aware that, so far as I know, there is no machinery for arbitration or for the consideration of cases of hardship, and will he see whether this can be introduced?

Mr. Carr

The terms for non-designated officers is not my responsibility, but that of my right hon. Friend. I will consult him and draw his attention to what has been said by my hon. Friend.

Mr. G. M. Thomson

In view of the relatively small number of non-designated officers, is the Minister aware that there would be strong support from hon. Members on this side of the House for any generous arrangements made about hardship cases?

Mr. Carr

I note that.

The following is the information: So far as designated officers in Nyasaland are concerned, a general compensation scheme is already n force based on the principles set out in Cmnd. 1193. Under that scheme an entitled officer can elect to retire on giving six months' notice, in which case he receives compensation by instalments; if he is required to retire, he receives his compensation in a lump sum. The amount of compensation depends upon the officer's salary, age and length of service. For non-designated officers, of whom there are 16 serving on overseas terms of service in Nyasaland, the Nyasaland Government is about to introduce a retirement benefits scheme, under which an officer will be able to elect to retire on pension earned to date irrespective of length of service or may be required to retire. For those required to retire, the element of compensation under this scheme is based on that provided under the pensions legislation when an officer retires on abolition of office, and provision exists for the commutation of the compensatory addition to pension in accordance with a special table of factors; the amount of compensation will depend upon the officer's salary and length of service.