HC Deb 28 June 1966 vol 730 cc1562-3
15 and 16. Mr. Tilney

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) when the inducement allowances for officers operating under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme in Singapore were last reviewed; what increase in their emoluments to meet the rise in the cost of living there has been in the last 16 years; and when such increase or increases were made;

(2) whether he will consider paying, by agreement with the Government of Singapore, allowances of expatriate officers operating under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme in Singapore direct to those officers.

Mr. Oram

Salaries were last increased by 10 per cent, under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme in 1961, and were previously reviewed by the local government in 1953. There is no question at present of direct payment, because I am considering with the Singapore Government the future of the Scheme there in view of the difficulty of securing a further review.

Mr. Tilney

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that indigenous civil servants often object to the larger salaries paid to expatriates which appear on their order paper locally? Surely he must agree that, considering the rise in salaries elsewhere and the great rise in the cost of living in Singapore, it is high time that the salaries of these officers were looked at again.

Mr. Oram

I agree that the difficulty to which the hon. Gentleman refers is a real one. This is why we are discussing with the Singapore Government the whole future of the scheme.

18. Mr. Henry Clark

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress has been made in the revision of salaries for pensionable members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service serving in the Seychelles.

Mr. Oram

My consultations with the Governor are continuing and I am sorry that I am not yet able to make a statement.

Mr. Clark

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that six months ago, when he answered a Question on this subject, he was having discussions with the Governor? Surely the time has come for us to see some results from negotiations opened over two years ago. Will the hon. Gentleman assure us that when an agreement is made payment of the increase in pay is back-dated by at least eighteen months?

Mr. Oram

I agree with the hon. Gentleman that this matter has taken a long time due to the difficulty indicated by an hon. Member in another connection. We have put proposals to the Governor and are awaiting the reaction from the Seychelles.