§ Mr. Tilneyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the position of those public servants who resigned their posts in Rhodesia as a result of the illegal declaration of independence.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeOn 22nd December, 1965, Her Majesty's Government announced a temporary Scheme of Assistance for these public servants. It provided for certain payments relating to salary for a period of up to six months and for the safeguarding of pensions. On 14th June, 1966, it was announced that those members of the Scheme who indicated their intention to return to96W Rhodesia on a restoration of legality would continue to be eligible for certain payments relating to their Rhodesian salaries.
As has already been made clear, Her Majesty's Government's policy is to establish whether there is a realistic basis for a negotiated settlement within the ambit of the Five Principles, but they have come to the conclusion that, having regard to all the circumstances, the provisions of this Scheme are no longer applicable to the circumstances prevailing today. They have therefore decided that members of the Scheme should be released from any undertakings relating to a return to Rhodesia and that it would be appropriate at the same time to make new arrangements with a view to winding up the Scheme.
In general, the new arrangements which Her Majesty's Government propose for persons who have been admitted to the Scheme are as follows:
(a) Pensionable officers
These officers will be awarded a tax free capital payment representing a 100 per cent. commutation, calculated at current United Kingdom public service rates, of their earned pension enhanced (subject to certain overriding qualifications in a few cases) by one-third and including, where applicable, an element for widows' benefits. Any period prior to 28th February, 1971, during which an officer was eligible for payments relating to salary or an allowance under the Scheme will be treated as reckonable for pension earning purposes. Additionally, it is proposed to make a grant, also free of tax, to assist in their resettlement outside Rhodesia. This grant will be calculated at the rate of £250 per year or part of year prior to 28th February, 1971, during which the officer was eligible for payments under the Scheme as above.
(b)Non-pensionable officers
These officers will receive whatever sum would have been due to them under their terms of service plus a resettlement grant calculated on the basis outlined above.
Members of the Scheme who are eligible to benefit will be informed shortly of the arrangements which apply to them. 97W They will then be given the option of accepting the capital payment and resettlement grant or, if they so wish, of being eligible to receive periodic payments relating to basic Rhodesian salary scales as at present under the Scheme, followed where applicable by the appropriate retiring benefits paid at normal retirement age. Retiring benefits would be calculated to take account of actual service in Southern Rhodesia and of any period before 28th February, 1971, during which the person concerned was eligible for payments relating to salary under the Scheme. Full details of this option will be described in the letter to individual members.
The estimated cost of winding up the Scheme is £412,000. Arrangements will be made to avoid double benefits and the British Government will regard any payments made under these arrangements as advances on behalf of the legal government in Rhodesia and will expect to bring them into account when a settlement of Rhodesian affairs is reached. Meanwhile, provision will be made in supplementary estimates.