§ Mr. McLeavyasked the Undersecretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware that the Ceylon Government pays cost-of-living allowance to its pensioners, based upon British and Ceylon index figures; that, since October, 1950, additional allowances have been paid to pensioners resident in Ceylon and neighbouring countries, which have been refused to pensioners resident in Britain; and, in view of the fact that this refusal constitutes discrimination against residents in the United Kingdom, if he will make representations to the Ceylon Government, with a view to securing like treatment for all pensioners, in view of the increase in the cost of living in Britain.
§ Mr. J. FosterYes. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Dodds-Parker) on 21st May last. Representations have been made to the Ceylon Government which has considered this matter on more than one occasion and has as I stated previously based the distinction on the abnormal rise in the cost of living in Ceylon. I can see no grounds for further representations.