§ 65. Mr. Sandysasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is still the policy of Her Majesty's Government to withdraw all British forces from the Federation of South Arabia, as soon as the Federation achieves independence.
§ Mr. George ThomsonYes.
§ 66. Mr. Sandysasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what grounds the British High Commissioner in Aden banned the National Liberation Front; why the Front for Liberation of South Yemen has not been similarly banned; and why supporters of the Front for Liberation of South Yemen have been allowed to parade through the streets carrying guns.
§ Mr. George ThomsonFor the first two parts of the question I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend's replies to his Questions on 23rd March. The carrying of firearms by unauthorised persons is contrary to law. The British forces under conditions of great difficulty and provocation do every thing they can to ensure the law is observed in this and other respects. I therefore deplore the suggestion that our forces "allow" this practice to happen.
§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any calculation has been made of the value of the capital assets owned by the British Government in Southern Arabia; and what he proposes to do with these after evacuation.
§ Mr. George ThomsonNo precise calculation has been made of the value of non-military capital assets owned by the British Government in South Arabia but at a rough estimate their present day depreciated cost would be less than a quarter of a million pounds. Their disposal is currently under consideration.
§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assistance his Department proposes to give to British officers now in Government service in Southern Arabia to find alternative employment after the evacuation.
§ Mr. George ThomsonAs South Arabia will stand in need of British Staff for a332W number of years to come it would not be right to encourage those there to leave immediately after independence. The services provided through the Overseas Service Resettlement Bureau will, however, be available for eligible officers.
§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secreretary of State for Foreign Affairs which arrangements are being made for the upkeep and continuance of the Red Sea Lights after British evacuation of Aden.
§ Mr. George ThomsonSuch Red Sea Lights as are not administered by other countries are maintained by Her Majesty's Government under an International Agreement whereby Her Majesty's Government act as managing Government with other shipping countries contributing to the cost. Urgent consideration is being given to the most efficient means of fulfilling this obligation after the British withdrawal from Aden.
§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that all pensions due to Government officials, British or Asia, after the evacuation of South Arabia are paid in pounds sterling and not in dinars.
§ Mr. George ThomsonArrangements to provide for payment of pensions in the currency of the country in which payment is to be made and to preserve the sterling value of the pensions calculated at the official rate of exchange prevailing at independence will be included in the Public Officers Agreement.
§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied there are sufficient South Arabian funds under the control of the United Kingdom Government to ensure that pensions of all Government servants of that area, British or Asian, are secure for the future; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. George ThomsonResponsibility for payment of pensions to officers in the Public Service in South Arabia is a matter for the local governments. Safeguards for the pensions and other retirement benefits of these officers will be effected through the signing of a Public Officers Agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the independent government on the independence of 333W South Arabia. Preliminary negotiations on this subject have already taken place in South Arabia and I have no reason to believe that there will be any difficulty in concluding an Agreement of this kind.
§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that pension arrangements for employees of the Aden Port Trust are adequate and secure for the future; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. George ThomsonAs the Aden Port Trust is not a Government organisation, I have no responsibility for the pension arrangements of the staff. I understand, however, that negotiations on pensions and related matters are proceeding in Aden between the Board of Trustees and representatives of the Aden Port Trust Staff Associations.
§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangement he proposes to make to ensure that the pensions of all Government servants of Aden and the Federation will be adjusted to take account of any rise in the cost of living.
§ Mr. George ThomsonThe question of pension increases to take account of any rise in the cost of living will be a matter for the independent Government of South Arabia.
§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure, as a condition of independence, that resettlement grants are made to South Arabian Government servants, not of United Kingdom or Southern Arabian domicile, who return to their own countries after evacuation.
§ Mr. George ThomsonIt is the intention that these officers should be entitled to retire voluntarily on independence with the pension or gratuity which they will have earned in respect of their service. I do not consider that additional arrangements of the kind suggested are warranted.
§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will study the arrangements made in Palestine towards the end of the mandate to assist Government officers of British 334W or other nationality to transfer their goods and personal possessions safely to their homes; and if he will apply similar arrangements to those serving in South Arabia and grant financial assistance towards this end.
§ Mr. George ThomsonThere is no need to study arrangements made nearly twenty years ago in different circumstances. The personal effects of officers in South Arabia will be transported in accordance with their conditions of service.