§ 74. Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to get a reply from the Malayan Government regarding any increase in pensions to Colonial servants; and if he is aware of the hardship now being caused to many Colonial pensioners in view of the increasing cost of living.
Mr. Creech JonesParticulars of the increases introduced in this country by the 157W Pensions (Increase) Act, 1947, and an invitation to review the schemes of increase applicable to pensioners of their Governments in the light of the United Kingdom increases were sent to the Governors of the Malayan Union and Singapore on the 26th April. I cannot say when the Governors will be in a position to reply, but it is to be expected that the Governments concerned will require some little time yet to consider the matter. I appreciate, of course, that the increased cost of living imposes hardship on many Colonial pensioners as on other people with fixed incomes.