§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure that the local high cost of living in the Western Isles is taken into account in any future changes in respect of the pensions of retired civil servants and police pensioners resident in that area, as is done in respect of public employees drafted for duty to that area.
§ Mr. MacDermotNo. The principal reason for the Scottish Distant Islands Allowance paid to civil servants posted from the mainland is the high cost of going home for holidays, etc. This allowance is not pensionable. If on retirement a civil servant makes his home in the Islands, the question of special payments to cover such costs does not arise.