HC Deb 27 November 1969 vol 792 cc588-9
6. Mr. Allason

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what Government assistance is offered to local pensioners of the Zanzibar Government, resident outside Zanzibar, whose pensions are in default.

Mrs. Hart

We have made, and continue to make representations to the Tanzanian Government on behalf of the pensioners concerned.

Mr. Allason

As the Tanzanian Government have not the slightest intention of paying these pensions, are not our Government under at least a moral obligation to look after those who have served Colonial Governments extremely well in the past and who have now hit very hard times? Is not it dishonourable just to leave them like that?

Mrs. Hart

I think that to use the word "dishonourable" is going much too far. As the hon. Gentleman knows my predecessor had and I have a great deal of sympathy on this point. We have made very recent representations. My hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs did so to the authorities involved on 28th October. My difficulty is that I do not have any funds to help these local pensioners. It is a very difficult situation which I fully recognise. I wish I could help, but, frankly, I am not in a position to be able to do so at this moment.

Mr. Paget

The right hon. Lady tells us that to use the word "dishonourable" is to go too far. This is a default of obligation, and surely obligations of this sort should have a priority?

Mrs. Hart

I would totally resist that adjective applied to the British Government in this case. [HON. MEMBERS: "The Zanzibar Government."] That is a very different matter. I took the word to be used in a rather different context. Of course it is serious and a matter of very great anxiety that people who have served in a public capacity in any country should not be able to draw the pensions to which they are entitled.

Mr. Braine

Is the right hon. Lady aware that there are former Zanzibar officers living in this country who are drawing public assistance? Does not she think that this is a very grave reflection on the Government, and will she look into this matter again and take action?

Mrs. Hart

Again, one gets the reflection on our Government. I am glad that we are able to substitute for a pension some assistance from our own funds for a former colonial servant who is now living in Britain. The difficulty is that those who are not living here cannot be helped in such a way. I wish this were not so.