§ Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the hon. Member for Hornsey may expect to get a reply to his letter of 7th October, 1947, regarding the petition dated 30th September, 1947, from the Government Pensioners' Society, Penang.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsThe petition referred to by the hon. Member requested an increase in the cost of living allowances granted to the pensioners and the refund of deductions made from arrears of pension on account of payments made to the pensioners by the Japanese during the Japanese occupation of Malaya. The second of these points raised a difficult legal issue, but I hope to notify the decision shortly. As regards the first request, the question of cost of living allowances has been under general review in Malaya, but as an interim measure the position of pensioners has been improved by the introduction of cost, of living allowances on pensions. These allowances in all grades are almost identical,206W dollars for pounds, with the increase granted under the United Kingdom Pensions Increased Act of 1947.