THE OVERSEA CIVIL SERVICE (Hansard, 17 May 1956)

§ LORD GLYN
My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

§ THE EARL OF MUNSTER
My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are indeed grateful to my noble friend, who at considerable inconvenience to himself was good enough, at the Government's request, to postpone this Question until to-day. Details of my right honourable friend's proposals concerning the organisation of Her Majesty's Oversea Civil Service will be published in a White Paper which will be available to noble Lords later this afternoon.
First of all, looking to the future, Her Majesty's Government have decided in principle to establish a central pool of officers with exceptional administrative or professional qualifications who will be employed by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and made available as required on secondment to over-sea Governments. Plans for the establishment of this pool are being worked out. This is not, however, by any means the whole problem. Meanwhile an urgent staffing position has arisen in the territories which comprise the Federation of Nigeria. We have given special thought to this. We realise the anxieties and uncertainties which affect the services there and wish to help the Governments to keep experienced staff who might otherwise retire under compensation schemes. We are therefore prepared to accept certain important obligations towards the existing staffs. We propose, subject to the agreement of the Nigerian Governments, to introduce a scheme by which existing expatriate pensionable officers can transfer on certain conditions to a Special List of Her Majesty's Over-sea Civil Service. Officers who are admitted to the Special List will thenceforth be in the service of Her Majesty's Government and seconded to the local Governments. The main features of the scheme will be set forth in the White Paper.
503 These arrangements underline the high importance which Her Majesty's Government attach to the officers of the Nigerian services continuing to give their invaluable help to the countries they serve. The scheme will be in a form which will make it possible for similar arrangements to be applied to other territories as and when Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that circumstances make such action desirable.

§ LORD GLYN
My Lords, I desire to thank the noble Earl for the Answer which he has given, which will remove a great deal of anxiety which is present in the minds of members of the Oversea Civil Service. For the sake of clarification, I should like to ask the noble Earl two further questions. The first is this. Is it right to assume that, though members of Her Majesty's Oversea Civil Service in Nigeria are especially mentioned, the position of those serving in other territories will also be taken into account? They will obviously be filled with some anxiety until it is made known whether they fall within the purview of the same sort of scheme. Could one have some kind of assurance that the information will be made available, with as little delay as possible, to these officers serving in other territories? Secondly, will those officers on the Special List be able to undertake work in Government Departments and such work as will fall within the full meaning of the term "approved employment," which means that they will not sacrifice their pension rights but may go on putting in useful work in connection with the Oversea Service?

§ THE EARL OF MUNSTER
My Lords, in reply to the noble Lord's first question, may I say that the Special List scheme is one which can be applied to any territory, in agreement with the Government concerned. My right honourable friend will consider approaching other Governments as and when the need arises. With regard to the Special List, I am sure that my noble friend will appreciate that this is a United Kingdom Service; but if any Commonwealth or foreign Government wish to draw upon this scheme we will do our best to meet their requirements.

§ LORD COLYTON
My Lords, may I be allowed to congratulate the noble Earl 504 on this very important step forward in the development of Her Majesty's Over-sea Civil Service to meet modern conditions? I know that this is a matter which has given great anxiety to my right honourable friend the present Secretary of State and to his predecessor, Lord Chandos, in the past, and that the noble Earl's statement this afternoon will give great satisfaction. May I ask one question? I note the important fact that this Special List is to be extended to other territories as well as to Nigeria. Certainly there are territories in Africa, the Far East and the West Indies, where it should be possible to retain these most important expatriate officers for some time to come. May I ask whether he is satisfied that the present formula will give the Secretary of State all the powers he needs to extend this special service to these territories, as and when he considers it desirable and necessary?

§ THE EARL OF MUNSTER
In reply to the noble Lord, I understand that the Secretary of State is quite satisfied that he can apply this as and when required, in agreement with the other Governments.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGH
My Lords, on behalf of the Opposition may I say how much we welcome the statement which the noble Earl, Lord Munster, has made? We think that it will be especially encouraging to the civil servants overseas to whom the noble Lord, Lord Glyn, referred. We hope that it will encourage them to hold fast and to go on with the good work they are already doing. My noble friend Lord Attlee had intended to ask a question about the Commonwealth, but he feels that the noble Earl's answer to the supplementary question is satisfactory.