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Reference..
A. Bailey
Recirc.
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REGISTRY No.51 25: LB 1970
MKK 187
Mr. Fairclough
Mr. Le Toca
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Overseas Pensions Policy
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This minute is intended to bring you up to date on the latest position. The Cabinet Defence and Oversea Policy Committee met on 18 February and were unable to reach a conclusion on the ODM proposals in the limited time available. Discussion is to be resumed "at an early date" this is unlikely to be before the end of next week. I am told that the discussion was moving in favour of the ODM/FCO proposals.
Dependent Territories
2. Prior to the meeting the ODM had already accepted that any change of practice in relation to independent countries should be accompanied by the following arrangements in relation to dependent territories:
(a)
(b)
As they approach independence offers will be made to them designed to assimilate them to the position applicable at that stage to H.M.G's responsibilities in relation to expatriate pensions in independent countries;
for dependent territories other than those covered by (a), account would be taken of their expenditure on expatriate pensions in assessing their needs for development aid.
These propositions were apparently not challenged at the meeting, which agreed that any Ministerial statement announcing a change in policy should also include a sentence on the lines that, "the reasonable needs of dependent territories reafin a first charge on our aid programme and it is our general policy to increase aid to them". This seems to be satisfactory.
Tanzania
3. The Minister of Overseas Development wishes to include the following passage in her statement:
"The Government's decision removes the impediment to a renewed aid programme in Tanzania; and I shall be ready at any time to exchange views with the Tanzania Government on this subject."
I assume that this, too, is satisfactory.
LAST PAPER
Абзатый
(A.T. Baillie)
Financial Policy and Aid Department
24 February, 1970