§ Mr. Nottasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what additional assistance he intends to give to those Rhodesian officers who remained loyal to the Crown after the unilateral declaration of independence who now find themselves without financial support following the expiry of the initial six months help already provided by Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mrs. HartI am glad to have this opportunity of informing the House of the further assistance which Her Majesty's252W Government intend to make available to such officers.
The Government will continue to extend the assistance to those officers who have the firm intention of returning to duty to Rhodesia upon the restoration of constitutional Government. Those officers who do not find temporary employment will be eligible to receive full salary advances for a further three months, making nine months in all; thereafter they will receive advances of half salary. If they should find temporary employment in this country, assistance will be in the form of a "topping up" allowance, this being the difference between their income from such employment and the amount of any higher advances related to their normal Rhodesian salaries, which they would otherwise receive from Her Majesty's Government. This assistance will be maintained until these officers resume their posts in Rhodesia.
I understand that some officers foresee particular difficulty about returning to their duties in Rhodesia and that they are therefore thinking in terms of starting a new career. Such officers will not be eligible for further advances in salary after the initial period of six months. Their rate of pension or other terminal benefit will be safeguarded.