§ 89 and 90. Mr. Tilneyasked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation (1) whether he will make a statement about the retirement of pensionable staff of Her Majesty's overseas civil service employed inter-territorially in West Africa;
(2) what is the position of those of Her Majesty's overseas civil service employed inter-territorially in West Africa as regards alterations in terms of service due to the independence of most of the employing Governments.
§ Mr. VosperAfter negotiations between the British Government and the West African Governments a draft directive was issued by the West African Research Office in 1960. This set out the retirement terms proposed for pensionable overseas officers in the service of the inter-territorial research organisations when, following the independence of the West African Governments and a reorganisation of research arrangements, the ultimate responsibility of the Colonial Secretary for those officers under existing legislation came to an end. This directive was to be brought into force when existing West African legislation providing for the research organisations had been repealed and re-128W placed by an agreement between the West African Governments providing for the future conduct of inter-territorial research. The legislation has not yet been amended nor has a fresh inter-territorial agreement been signed. Consequently no premature retirement scheme for overseas officers has yet been introduced. Last year the British Government submitted to the West African Governments further proposals regarding the retirement terms of these officers, and these are still under consideration by those Governments. I recognise the urgency of settling the matter and am personally pursuing it.