§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister for Overseas Development how far recent changes in the value of the £ sterling affect the pensions increases payable by Her Majesty's Government to overseas pensioners.
§ Mr. PrenticeAt present these changes are taken into account in calculating the pension supplements payable to pensioners who served in countries now independent, but not to those who served in remaining dependencies. This difficult problem is being reviewed and meanwhile a regulation is being laid before Parliament to put a temporary standstill on the further pensions increases which would otherwise have become payable from 1st December on pensions payable in respect of service in the remaining dependencies. I shall of course have full consultations with the representatives of the overseas pensioners concerned before a new policy is settled.