Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is being paid annually by the Treasury in pensions to Rhodesian residents; how much is owed to British residents in the form of blocked funds deposited with the Ottoman Bank and other banks in Rhodesia; and if he will seek powers to 31W enable him to block equivalent funds from the balances held by these banks in Great Britain.
§ Mr. TavernePayment of pensions from the votes of Government Departments to Rhodesian residents is at an annual rate of some £580,000. The value of the funds owed to British residents and blocked by the illegal regime is not known. Under present rules no payments can be made by U.K. residents to Rhodesia except in respect of pensions and for various humanitarian reasons.