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TEAM (INCLUDING A REPRESENTATIVE OF POLICE INSPECTORS).

5. CARTLAND SAID THAT HE NOTED THE REFERENCE IN THE STATEMENT TO THE 1991 EXCHANGE RATE. AS INDICATED IN HIS RECENT LETTER TO LORD CAITHNESS, THE ASSOCIATION WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE THE QUESTION OF PENSION STERLING SAFEGUARDS DURING THE CONSULTATIONS IN THE WEEK OF 4 MAY. THEY WISHED TO KNOW WHERE MATTERS WERE GOING. HE ASKED WHETHER DECISIONS WOULD BE TAKEN BEFORE THE 30 JUNE DEADLINE FOR OFFICERS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN NEW AND OLD PENSIONS SCHEME. COX SAID THAT WE HAD NOTED CARTLAND'S REFERENCE TO THIS POINT IN HIS LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF STATE. THE POSITION WAS THAT THE QUESTION WAS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION: NO DECISIONS HAD YET BEEN TAKEN. HE COULD NOT SAY WHETHER DECISIONS WOULD BE TAKEN BEFORE 30 JUNE. BUT HE NOTED THE ASSOCIATION'S CONCERN.

6.

CARTLAND ASKED WHETHER THE CONSTITUTIONAL POINT (PARA 1(A) OF TUR) AFFECTED DECISIONS ON STERLING SAFEGUARDS DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND WHAT WOULD BE THE EFFECT OF A HUNG PARLIAMENT. COX SAID THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THAT ONCE AN ELECTION HAD BEEN CALLED THE CONVENTION WAS THAT GOVERNMENTS AIMED TO AVOID TAKING MAJOR NEW DECISIONS: OPENING CONSULTATIONS ON THE SCHEME OUTLINED IN THE STATEMENT WAS A MATTER OF CARRYING THROUGH POLICY DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT OVER PREVIOUS MONTHS AND WEEKS. CARTLAND SUGGESTED THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LONG-STANDING POLICY ON HMOCS PENSIONS SAFEGUARDS SHOULD NOT REALLY REQUIRE NEW DECISIONS EITHER. COX SAID THAT THERE WAS CERTAINLY MUCH RELEVANT HISTORICAL BACKGROUND BUT HMOCS ARRANGEMENTS HAD ALWAYS BEEN TAILORED TO THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH TERRITORY, SO HE THOUGHT THAT ANY SUCH DECISIONS WOULD BE REGARDED AS NEW DECISIONS.

7 THE HMOCS REPRESENTATIVES ASKED NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. ATMOSPHERE OF THE MEETING WAS GOOD.

THE

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