§ 11. Mr. Braineasked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will reconsider the decision of his predecessor not to assume responsibility for the pension of Mr. Y. Alawi who served British administration overseas for 36 years and has been denied his pension by the Zanzibar Government.
§ Mr. WoodI am studying this question, and I will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as I can.
§ Mr. BraineWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for agreeing to look into the matter again, may I ask him to bear in mind that Mr. Alawi, after a lifetime of service to the British Crown, is living sick and near destitution in this country and deserves very much better treatment than he has been getting? Would he also bear in mind that many of us will scrutinise with not much enthusiasm any aid proposals for Tanzania unless injustices of this kind are removed?
§ Mr. WoodI am grateful to my hon. Friend for not pressing me further on this specific problem. I am, as I have assured him, looking into this matter. I am aware of Mr. Alawi's difficulties and I would very much hope to be able to do something to help.