§ 7. Mr. Tilneyasked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he is in a position to make any further statement on the subject of widows' pensions payable from the Ceylon Widows and Orphans Pension Fund.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Overseas Development (Mr. Albert E. Oram)No substantive reply has yet been received to our representations to the Government of Ceylon on behalf of these pensioners. My right hon. Friend took the opportunity of his recent brief visit to Ceylon to raise the matter with the Ceylonese Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance and he was assured that it was being considered.
§ Mr. TilneyWill the Minister bear in mind that the widows of servants recruited by the Secretary of State to serve the Crown are being paid in rupees which have been devalued more than has the British £ and that many of them are in dire straits?