§ 31. Mr. Kershawasked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress has been made in the negotiations with former dependent territories to implement the provisions of the Overseas Pensions Act 1973; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantThe arrangements whereby the British Government may, by agreement with the overseas Governments concerned, assume responsibility for the payment of some 40,000 expatriate pensions direct to the individual pensioners presented a heavy administrative task to my Department and the 36 overseas Governments involved. Since the Act was passed we have concluded agreements with and taken over the expatriate pensions of Sudan, The Gambia and Burma. Negotiations with the other overseas Governments are at various stages—I signed an agreement with the Lesotho Government on 27th February—and I expect that, with the co-operation of the overseas administrations, this agreement and a further 11 will be signed and implemented during this year and most of the rest next year.