HL Deb 28 July 1959 vol 218 cc661-2

2.30 p.m.

LORD MILVERTON

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the policy of Colonial No. 306 of 1954, which states inter alia that members of Her Majesty's Colonial Service have rightly regarded themselves and have been regarded as belonging to a general Service under the Crown, is still that of Her Majesty's Government.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COLONIAL AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF PERTH)

My Lords, the answer is Yes: the policy remains unchanged, although Her Majesty's Colonial Service referred to in the Question has been superseded by Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service.

LORD MILVERTON

My Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for that satisfactory Answer, even if it does comprise all that I hope it does, I would ask this supplementary question. In that Paper, Colonial No. 306, it says that Her Majesty's Government will give every consideration to seeing that the Colonial Service does not lose in the future, and it also includes the continuing payment of pension already awarded. Would that include any consideration or any moral liability to try to get for those pensions which have already been awarded similar increases to those recently awarded under the Pensions (Increase) Act in this country?

THE EARL OF PERTH

My Lords, I think the answer is that, while Her Majesty's Government would certainly do all that they could in that respect, if the territory concerned did not listen to their representations, there would be no obligation for Her Majesty's Government to do any more. In that connection, I think I should tell your Lordships that my right honourable friend is about to address the overseas Governments for whose affairs he is responsible, drawing attention to the provisions of the new Pensions (Increase) Act and asking them to consider whether further improvements in their own schemes are now desirable.

LORD MILVERTON

My Lords, perhaps I may ask this further supplementary question. Does that include widows' and orphans' pensions, as well?

THE EARL OF PERTH

My Lords, I do not know whether it specifically does, but I see no reason why the point about widows and orphans should not be drawn attention to at the same time as the other.