§ Mr. Currieasked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he has completed his review of the rates of pension paid to retired colonial officers and the widows of former colonial officers having regard to the increased cost of living and the effects of devaluation upon the purchasing power of such pensions.
§ Mr. OramThe pensions of retired colonial officers and their widows are paid288W by the overseas countries by whom the officers were employed and are governed by the pensions laws of those countries. Supplements to those pensions may be paid from British funds under the Pensions (Increase) Acts of 1962 and 1965 on a similar basis to the increases granted to United Kingdom public service pensioners.
The question of any increase in the supplement rates must depend on further pensions increases for the United Kingdom public service and on this point I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Financial Secretary's statement during the debate on Public Service and Armed Forces Pensions on the 9th May.—[Vol. 764; c. 646–56.]