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arguments we can muster. The most sensitive point is what
would happen if there is a breach of the Joint Declaration:
the only safe line if pressed on this is that it would be
for the Government of the day to consider how to respond.
After the consultations
16.
The consultations are likely to be difficult, but given
the moderation of the Committee and the fact that we shall
be undertaking to report their views back to Ministers, it should be possible to keep some lid on things publicly
until we are closer to decisions. (Nonetheless we are preparing contingency lines for News Department to use with the media).
17. On our return I shall submit again, setting out the
options and recommendations for what we should put to the Treasury, with a view to promulgating the scheme in early
June. At this stage I doubt that we shall need to move
on the maximum sum payable: the cash sums involved will be respectable, relative to those paid in other territories and to UK public service salaries. The protracted phasing period is harder to justify, and the cost implications of a move here would be less significant. Ministers may also wish to look again at the question of early retirement, ie
in the light of what sort of case the HMOCS Association make
about it during the consultations next week and perhaps too in the light of the Treasury response on sterling safeguards. (I set out at Annex A some considerations going against the points in para 12 above. Personally I
think these carry some weight. However the Treasury would strongly resist a change of policy on this point).
Mor
N J Cox
NC1ACC/8
I agnel
адми
with there tactics and commend
them to the Minister. The litter to the Cartland
needs to issue tomorrow. Wehave had some mortmful unchanges with the homernor,
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homeauer des shall and Muiston this with
and will insulting remind alter to the Chuif Secaibary.
Kiw 21/