HC Deb 12 June 1967 vol 748 cc259-61

Question proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.

11.45 p.m.

Mr. Peter Hordern (Horsham)

The point of the Clause is to safeguard the position of a non-resident in receipt of a pension from the Central African Pension Fund. Last week, the Fund was shown to be in some difficulty by a Written Answer given by the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, in which he said: To help meet the problem of liquidity funds have been made available by Zambia, Malawi and the Smith régime. In addition, the Crown Agents as Trustees, have made available £250,000 from funds at their disposal. In order that this may continue to be available they require a guarantee by H.M.G. as a party to the Public Officers' Agreement. Is all the sum of £250,000 envisaged, at any rate for this financial year?

Secondly, is the Smith régime carrying out what were formerly the obligations of the Government of Southern Rhodesia, and what exactly is the body now making this payment? Thirdly, a question of which I have given notice, what precisely is the nature, if any, of the guarantee given by Her Majesty's Government as a party to the Public Officers' Agreement? In his Written Answer, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs said: In order that this may continue to be available …."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 7th June; Vol. 747, c. 229.] Is that guarantee now considered to be continuing?

Mr. Harold Lever

It is true that the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) has given me notice of these questions, but, alas, it was too brief for me to be able to give him the answers. Had he given me further notice I should have tried to give him them, although I should perhaps have been out of order, because the Clause does not relate in any way to his questions, except in a political sense. It is merely a revenue Clause, which provides that the Central African Pension Fund shall be put on the same basis as any approved domestic pension fund. Its income will accumulate tax-free and the pensions paid out of the fund will be received by overseas pensioners free of tax.

That is all that the Clause does. It follows that guarantees relating to it, the source of its funds and matters of that kind do not arise under it. I shall gladly do my best to gratify the hon. Gentleman's curiosity if it is in my power to do so, but these questions should be directed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, and no doubt the hon. Gentleman will arrange to do that. The Clause has a much more limited purpose than the points he raised.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 37 ordered to stand part of the Bill.