TNAG-0205-FCO40-241-Pensions-policy-1970 — Page 91

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in the overseas pensions field and HMG has made unequivocal statements as to its special obligation. The most relevant statements in Parliament are:-

1.

30 January 1968 Hansard Vol 757 No 50 Cols 1299 - 1307 Extract of speech by the then Minister of Overseas Development

"(Mr Prentice)

Secondly, the British Government have recognised an obligation to step in if there is a default.

Here I would refer the Hon Gentleman to an exchange of letters that took place between the Right Hon Gentleman the Member for Mitcham (Mr R Carr) when he was Secretary for Technical Co- operation and the President of the Overseas Service Pensioners' Association. The Right Hon Gentleman said,

"....if for any reasons it should so happen in relation

to the payment of a pension that a pensioner found himself in financial difficulties Her Majesty's Government would feel obliged to take appropriate remedial action".

That does not amount to a formal commitment to pay loan advances if there has been a default, but it has been understood since by the Overseas Service Pensioners' Association and by the British Government that this would in effect happen if there were a default."

19.

ii.

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26 November 1968 Hansard Vol 774 No 21 Cols 460 Extract of speech by the Parliamentary Secretary, ODM

"(Mr Oram)

Thirdly, however, we have recognised a special obligation to safeguard the pensions earned by expatriates who were selected by a Secretary of State for appointment to Government posts overseas. This obligation is explained in the White Paper, Reorganisation of the Colonial Service (Colonial No 306) and it was supplemented

by the Right Hon Member for Mitcham (Mr R Carr) when he was Secretary for Technical Co-operation, when he gave an assurance to the Overseas Service Pensioners' Association. My Right Hon Friend referred to that assurance in the House on 30 January. This undertaking covers whose who were designated under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme, or who were non-designated/non-indigenous officers; but I emphasise that it does not extend to pensioners who are not expatriates.

iii. The PQ and A's covering the Zanzibar, Aden and Tanzania loan advances all made it clear that payment and responsibility embraced the Asians and other non-indigenous expatriates.

These expressions of policy have been reproduced in letters to individuals, Members of Parliament and others and in Pq and A's.

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