§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the results of the referendum in Rhodesia, he proposes to continue to make financial assistance available to Rhodesian public servants.
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§ Mr. FoleyAs my hon. Friend will know, the British Government's scheme of assistance to persons in the Rhodesian public service who resigned from their posts on grounds of conscience or who were suspended or dismissed by the illegal régime in Rhodesia because of their refusal to support it or to carry out unlawful orders was announced in the House on 22nd December, 1965, by the then Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, and was further expanded by the statement in the House made by the then Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations on 14th June, 1966. It has been decided that, in the present circumstances in Rhodesia, it would be inappropriate to continue indefinitely to accept fresh beneficiaries under the scheme. We propose therefore to cease to accept fresh beneficiaries after 31st August this year. Rhodesian public servants who have left Rhodesia and can demonstrate that they have left their posts in one of the ways described, and who wish to be considered for benefits, should apply to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or to a British post outside Rhodesia before that date.—[Vol. 722, c. 469–70; Vol. 729, c. 1214–15.]