Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether consideration is being given to the increasing anxiety of Colonial civil servants in respect of the cost of living and of their dependants away from them; what representations have been received by the local Colonial Governments and himself on these and cognate matters; whether reliefs have been made available; and whether consideration is also being given to retired Colonial servants' pensions.
§ Colonel StanleyThe effect of the increase in the cost of living on the position of public servants has been kept under continuous review by Colonial Governments, and the majority have granted temporary allowances to lower paid staff. There is considerable variation in the rates and scope of such allowances in accordance with the variations in the cost of living in individual territories. In the formulation of arrangements for the payment of allowances, Governments have taken fully into account any representations which may have been made by representative staff associations. In a number of Colonies, similar allowances are being paid to retired officers. As regards the position of retired Colonial Service officers resident in this country, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. W. J. Brown) on 17th May.