HC Deb 14 March 1962 vol 655 cc167-72W
Mr. Tilney

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what is the average pension paid through the Crown Agents, territory by territory, to the widows of pensioners of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service and former members of the Colonial Service, who retired before any post-war salary increases were granted by the employing Governments.

Mr. Vosper

The following statement relates to widows' pensions which commenced before the grant of any post-war salary increase by the employing Government concerned, except in the case of East and West Africa, where it relates to the pensions of widows of former Colonial Service Officers who retired before the first post-war salary increases.

The average figures given in the table are for basic pensions only and do not include pensions increases.

There were no widows' and orphans' pension schemes in the following countries prior to the 1st January, 1946:

Aden, Bahamas, Gibraltar, Leeward and Windward Islands, St. Helena, Seychelles.

I regret that I am not in a position to supply information about the payment of pensions by independent Commonwealth or foreign countries.

Country Average Widow's Pension£
Barbados 163
Bermuda 30
British Guiana 130
British Honduras No pensions in payment
East African Railways and Harbours Administration 156

Country Average Widow's Pension£
Falkland Islands 107
Fiji 140
Gambia 109
Hong Kong 166
Jamaica 117
Kenya 160
Malta 107
Mauritius 130
North Borneo 146
Northern Rhodesia 182
Nyasaland 175
Sarawak 254
Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland 72
Trinidad 110
Uganda 165
Zanzibar 149
Pensions in respect of service under more than one Government 403

Mr. Tilney

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation, whether he will state in tabular form which Colonial and ex-Colonial Territories pay pensions increases lower than those received under the United Kingdom's Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959; and how many pensioners are involved in the case of each country or territory.

Mr. Vosper

Full information regarding the total number of pensioners in each country receiving pensions increases lower than those paid under the United Kingdom Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959, is not at present available, but I will send my hon. Friend this information in respect of dependent territories as soon as I have obtained it. It will not be possible to supply this information in respect of pensioners of independent Commonwealth or foreign countries.

Mr. Tilney

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if he will state in tabular form, for each Colonial and ex-Colonial Government, the number of pensioners, the number receiving less than United Kingdom rates, and the annual cost of pensions and pension increases to overseas pensioners paid through the Crown Agents; and what would be the annual cost of supplementing these rates so as to bring them into line with the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959 of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Vosper

The following table shows the number of overseas pensioners of dependent territories paid through the Crown Agents, the total cost of their basic pensions, and the annual cost of bringing all these pensions to the United Kingdom level. I regret that I am not in a position to supply information about the payment of pensions by independent Commonwealth or foreign

Country Number of Pensioners Number receiving less than United Kingdom rates Annual cost of Basic Pensions Annual cost of supplementing to United Kingdom rates
£ £
Aden* 22 18 4,500 800
Bahamas 2 300
Barbados 8 2,300
Bermuda 10 2,700
British Guiana 60 10 18,200 220
British Honduras 11 9 1,200 400
Brunei 2 2 150 40
East African Common Services Organisation 190 25 90,000 780
Falkland Islands 14 2,800
Fiji 26 6 9,800 130
Gambia 25 10 7,000 280
Gibraltar 14 1,600
Hong Kong 570 259,000
Jamaica 50 2 9,700 50
Kenya 370 110 161,000 3,300
Leeward Islands 2 200
Malta 9 3 2,100 70
Mauritius 100 5 25,000 150
North Borneo 40 19,000
Northern Rhodesia 200 12 90,000 170
Nyasaland 140 15 58,000 470
St. Helena 2 1 300 20
Sarawak 40 25,000
Seychelles 2 300
Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland 20 1 5,600 25
Trinidad 50 5 12,300 185
Uganda 280 75 130,000 2,500
Western Pacific High Commission 5 1 1,400 70
Windward Islands 6 3 600 60
Zanzibar 35 15 12,200 540
Mixed Service (East Africa) 270 80 158,000 2,200
Mixed Service (General) 1,920 540 1,228,000 31,600
* Improved rates have recently been authorised and will bring almost all Aden pensioners up to United Kingdom levels.

Mr. Tilney

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation, what is the average pension, territory by territory, paid through the Crown Agents to pensioners of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service and former members of the Colonial Service who retired before any post-war salary increases were granted by the employing Governments.

Mr. Vosper

The following statement shows territory by territory the average annual pension paid through the Crown Agents to former overseas officers who retired before the grant of any post-war salary increases by the Governments concerned

countries. 1 also regret that separate information regarding the annual cost of existing pensions increases paid to overseas pensioners is not readily available and I do not feel justified in giving instructions for these details to be compiled.

The figures given in the statement relate to basic pensions only and do not include subsequent pensions increases. I regret that I am not in a position to supply information about the payment of pensions by independent Commonwealth or foreign countries.

Country Average Pension £
Aden 121
Bahamas 157
Barbados 64
Bermuda No pensions in payment
British Guiana 187
British Honduras 99

Country Average Pension£
Brunei 73
East African Railways and Harbours Administration 276
Falkland Islands 267
Fiji 238
Gambia 208
Gibraltar 84
Hong Kong 353
Jamaica 149
Kenya 342
Leeward Islands No pensions in payment
Malta No pensions in payment
Mauritius 217
North Borneo 474
Northern Rhodesia 376
Nyasaland 355
St. Helena 84
Sarawak 409
Seychelles No pensions in payment
Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland 176
Trinidad 147
Uganda 356

Country Average Pension £
Windward Islands 54
Mixed Pensions (East Africa). 440
Mixed Pensions (General) 496