HC Deb 07 February 1958 vol 581 c216W
Mrs. Emmet

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, in view of India's present financial needs, what consideration has been given to expediting the payments due to the Government of India under the 1955 pension arrangements.

Mr. Alport

In response to a request from the Government of India at the end of last year, the United Kingdom Government have offered to pay £16 million, instead of the £4 million which is due to the Government of India in April. This will be done by anticipating, as part of our programme of debt repayment outside the Budget, the annual payments of principal due to be made in 1959, 1960 and 1961. A Statutory Instrument under the Pensions (India, Pakistan, and Burma) Act, 1955, will be tabled at an early date.