§ 15. Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Minister of Overseas Development what are the comparable rates of pay after tax for British and French public servants serving in the condominium of the New Hebrides; and what has been the increase in the cost of living since the rates were settled.
§ Mr. WoodI assume, as before, that my hon. Friend's Question refers to inducement allowances.
I have not enough information about the scales of pay in the French Service, New Hebrides, to make a direct comparison with the British rates; but in recognition of the special circumstances of service in the New Hebrides, expatriate officers in the British National Service receive a special additional allowance.
Between 1st July, 1969, the operative date of the last increase in the New Hebrides, and the following December, the latest date for which information is available, there was a rise of 2 per cent. in the level of retail prices.
§ Mr. Godman IrvineWould my right hon. Friend take some steps to find out what the differential is between those 825 who serve the French Government and those who serve the British Government and keep a close watch to see that British servants are not less well rewarded for their efforts?
§ Mr. WoodA senior official of to see whether I can obtain the kind of information my hon. Friend wants, but it is, of course, a difficulty not only of comparing rates of pay but of comparing a very great many other things, and difficult, therefore, to arrive at a direct and useful answer.