§ 75. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many employees in Palestine of the former Palestine Government have been unable since May last to draw the pensions or back payments of salary due to them; what is the total amount involved; and when it is proposed to remedy such injustices.
Mr. Creech JonesOut of some 46,000 non-expatriate officials and employees, about 11,700 have not yet received final adjustment of salary with statutory service gratuities or pensions. These are probably almost all in Palestine, and include 4,800 whose present whereabouts84W have not yet been traced. Payments due amount to about £1 million. Every endeavour is being made to arrange payments through the British Consular Officers, but certain obstacles resulting from present conditions in the territory, for example, affecting the physical transfer of the cash required, have not yet been overcome. Payment began early in October in those areas in Palestine where it has been possible to make the necessary arrangements.