Reference....
and allowances of DS officers serving in the dependent territories. We might abolish the sub-head administered by HKGD and transfer responsibility for "topping-up" to PSD as the department responsible for DS officers on secondment.
Other DS Officers in Dependent Territories
9. Although not strictly relevant to the integration of HMOCS officers, we should not overlook our junior DS officers on direct postings to the dependent territories (see annex D), some of whom might conceivably return to the dependent territories later in their careers to take over the more senior posts currently held by HMOCS officers and the DS officers on secondment. Their slots present a slight headache for the Administration; they appear on our establishment but are unlike the other posts to which a DS officer can be sent on a direct posting. It would be helpful if, in the rationalisation which should come with the integration of the HMOCS officers, DS officers now given direct postings to the dependent territories could be given something akin to secondment status. If the territories themselves are unwilling to pay for them and we still feel the slots are essential, we could perhaps second the officers to the territories and pay their salaries and allowances on the territories' behalf. (This would not be as silly as it might sound since in practice, much of the salary and allowance costs of the seconded DS officers are met by HMG. The elaborate machinery of payments and recoveries only obscures this.) an arrangement would have the advantage that all our officers serving in dependent territories would have the same status and none would appear on our establishment.
Conclusion
Such
10. Of the 13 HMOCS officers listed at annex A, six (Mr R J Wallace, Mr Russell, Mr P Dale, Mr W W Wallace, Mr Bain and Mr Reardon) should be left out of the consideration for integration into the DS on grounds of age. The other seven should be considered individually to see where the balance of advantage lies. When this is done, a further two, Mr Lloyd and Mr D K H Dale, might drop out of the running leaving us with 5 officers who could usefully be taken into the DS but who would nonetheless be very much dependent territory oriented. As for timing, Mr Brooks is due to come out of Tristan da Cunha at the end of this year and I understand from Mr Hall (HKGD) that there is likely to be a hiatus before another post if found for him. It would be optimistic to hope for a solution by then, but we should aim to make some definite progress which might be helpful in deciding what to do in his case.
11. This minute is only an outline. I have drawn on information and advice from Mr Hall, but he is by no means responsible for the form it has taken. I should be grateful for your and his views and for those of copy addressees, which can be worked up into a submission proposing the absorption of the younger HMOCS officers and the disappearance of HMOCS when the last older officer retires. I should particularly welcome PSD's assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of integration, for the officers and for the DS; and POD's view of their career prospects. To avoid further delay, could I ask for comments soon, and in any case not later than 15 May?
CODE 18-77
22 April 1981
BM Bennett PPD 233 3075
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