asked the Minister of Overseas Development if it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to accept responsibility for the payment of overseas pensions.

No, Sir. The Government will continue to look to overseas Governments to pay the pensions of their former officers and will continue also to safeguard the position of the pensioners.

But is the right hon. Lady aware that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster wrote to the Secretary of the Overseas Pensioners' Association and said quite frankly that the Government's mind was made up in favour of this proposal? Is this another election pledge which the Government propose to break?

There has been no pledge given by this Government. We know that these overseas officers were offered and accepted posts under overseas Governments. Therefore, the obligation to pay the pension should rest with those Governments.

Why did the Labour Party say before the election that it intended to agree with this proposal? Surely this is a broken pledge.

The Labour Party has not made such a pledge.

Is it or is it not a fact that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster wrote in the terms suggested?

That is not a question for me.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.