§ Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken by the Government of Mauritius to revise the laws relating to the pensions of Government servants in the light of the recommendations of the Swindon Commission.
Mr. Creech JonesA draft Bill has been prepared, to replace the existing legislation. I expressed my agreement with the terms of the Bill, subject to consideration of some amendments, but, as far as I am aware, the Bill has not yet become law. I am asking the Officer Administering the Government what the present position is, and I will inform my hon. Friend when I receive his reply.
§ Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now reconsider the case of Government pensioners in Mauritius who opted, under the Ordinance No. 31 of 1925, for a gratuity and reduced pension and have since paid back, by reduction of pension, the whole amount of their gratuity; and whether he will give particular consideration to the cases of such officers who were retrenched in 1932 and subsequently re-employed with considerable loss of salary, promotion and pension rights.
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Mr. Creech JonesNo. The gratuity is not in any sense an advance against pension payable during the first ten years of retirement. The provision for the award of a reduced pension and gratuity is an alternative to the award of an unreduced pension. It is for the officer to decide which course he feels72W would be to his benefit, and his choice is irrevocable. I could not now advise the Mauritius Government to legislate with retrospective effect to allow officers who were retrenched over 16 years ago, to revoke the option which they then made.