§ Lord TREVELYANMy Lords, I beg leave 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 they will be responsible for the pensions of the indigenous civil servants formerly working in the Colony of Aden and the Protectorate of South Arabia.]
§ Lord SHEPHERDMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government's consistent policy over many years is to regard overseas Governments as responsible for the payment of all public service pensions, including, in the case of independent Governments, the obligations of their predecessors. Consequently, responsibility for the payment of these pensions rests with the Southern Yemen Government.
§ Lord TREVELYANMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that not very informative Reply, may I ask him whether he does not agree that the British civil servants from South Arabia are being paid their pensions by the British Government; that this is probably the first occasion when British and non-British civil servants of a Colony attaining its independence have not been treated alike, and whether he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will give sympathetic consideration to the claims of men who have served the British Government loyally and who, as a result of that service, have either had to leave their country or been dismissed without pension by the successor Government? Finally, is it not time that the British Government made up their minds on this question?
§ Lord SHEPHERDMy Lords, the noble Lord raises a matter which naturally gives the Government and the Ministers immediately concerned considerable anxiety. On the other hand, we must maintain this principle that the pensions of overseas servants—that is, servants who have been employed on overseas government—should be paid by the responsible authority. If we were to break this principle, we might put in jeopardy many thousands of other servants who are in a similar position, and perhaps put in jeopardy, too, other civil servants who now are in colonial territories which may shortly receive their independence. We have a special obligation to our expatriate civil servants, and that is why special arrangements have been made for them. I am well aware of the noble Lord's concern, and I looked into this matter carefully this morning. If the noble Lord would allow me, I should like to take further steps with my right honourable friend to see whether something further can be done, without breaking the. principle of which I have spoken.
§ The Earl of SWINTONMy Lords, would the Minister consider, at the same time, while maintaining the principle which he has stood for that it is the local Government which ought to pay, that, after all, the moral obligation certainly is on Her Majesty's Government? Could not Her Majesty's Government look after these civil servants and then itself look to the foreign Government and insist that they pay the British Government?
§ Lord SHEPHERDMy Lords if we did what the noble Earl has suggested, it would, I think, encroach upon the principle which I have put before the House. I have said that I will look into the matter with my right honourable friend, and I suggest that perhaps the matter should be left there.
§ The Marquess of SALISBURYMy Lords, would it be possible for the noble Lord, Lord Trevelyan, to put down another Question when the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, has looked into the matter, so that the whole House may know exactly what the position is?'
§ Lord SHEPHERDMy Lords, it is for the noble Lord himself to decide what to do. This is a very delicate 771 subject. Perhaps the House should leave it for the noble Lord, Lord Trevelyan, and myself to look into it, and then, if the noble Lord is not satisfied, he can use Question Time again for this purpose.
§ Lord SEGALMy Lords, in view of the fact that the final settlement with the Protectorate of South Arabia was only one sixty-fourth part of the sum originally demanded, would it not be a generous gesture on the part of Her Majesty's Government to make some provision for these indigenous civil servants, particularly when they happen to be political refugees?
§ Lord SHEPHERDMy Lords, I am rather sorry that my noble friend has not taken the hint as to the delicacy of this matter and has sought to pursue it. I hope I have indicated to the noble Lord, Lord Trevelyan, my concern and that of the Government in this matter, and I hope the House will leave it there.