§ Q10. Mr. Taverneasked the Prime Minister if he will now offer compensation to any public servants in Rhodesia who help to bring the rebellion to an end and as a result suffer financially or otherwise.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, because to do so would be inconsistent with the advice we have given to Rhodesian public servants that they should, where their consciences permit, remain at their posts and play their part in the maintenance of law and order. Arrangements of course already exist to provide assistance to Rhodesian public servants who resign on grounds of conscience or who are 1289 suspended or dismissed by the illegal régime because they refuse to support it or carry out unlawful orders.
§ Mr. TaverneCould not the offer which has already been made in a statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations be added to, and payments made in Rhodesia to people who are actually out of a job while the rebellion still lasts? Does not my right hon. Friend agree that that could be of the greatest importance in ending the rebellion soon, and is he satisfied that sufficient publicity has been given to the Secretary of State's offer?
§ The Prime MinisterI have dealt with this a number of times in the past. We have all agreed that it is very difficult to know what is the right thing to do. We are paying salaries in some cases where public servants have felt unable to carry on for one of the reasons stated. I do not think that it would be helpful to give too much publicity to individual cases because of possible reactions.