HC Deb 22 January 1970 vol 794 cc681-2
25. Mr. Judd

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will publish a White Paper on the Government's policy towards the payment of pensions to retired British Government employees who have served in former British colonies and dependencies.

Mrs. Hart

This depends on the outcome of the re-examination of the pensions question, to which I referred in my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for York (Mr. Alexander W. Lyon) on 27th November last. This is proceeding, and I hope will be completed soon, but I cannot, of course, yet say what our conclusions will be—[Vol. 792, c. 603–4.]

Mr. Judd

Again, I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Does she agree that there is still a great deal of consternation among many elements of the aid lobby within the House and outside about the fact that pensions for former colonial officers are still counted as part of the aid programme and that, bemuse of the complexity of the issue, there is a desperate need for a full statement about the implications of the policy so that we can have an intelligent debate and the right decision?

Mrs. Hart

I am aware of that. While my hon. Friend was away, as he will know, I had a discussion about the matter with some of his hon. Friends. It is the case that much of the pre-independent service of colonial civil servants was making a contribution to development, and that has to be taken fully into account. When we have concluded our consideration of the matter, I shall be able to make a full statement to the House.

Mr. Tilney

Is it not true that every year the basic pensions are put in the budgets of developing countries and that they are becoming more and more un- popular? Is it not time that this country, in common with other ex-imperial Powers, took over the pensions and reduced aid accordingly?

Mrs. Hart

This is exactly the question that is now under consideration. I hope that it will not be long before I can report the results.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Will the Minister publish a paper of some kind showing what individuals are not getting what they are supposed to get, so that we can at last see clearly which territories have defaulted in pensions?

Mrs. Hart

I will certainly look into that question. If I may, I will write to the hon. Gentleman about it. My impression is that this is not the major problem involved. The problem, as his hon. Friend has put it, is the financial responsibility involved in the payment of pre-independence pensions.