Oral Answers to Questions — Overseas Development – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 15 Rhagfyr 1964.
Hon. Nicholas Ridley
, Cirencester and Tewkesbury
12:00,
15 Rhagfyr 1964
asked the Minister of Overseas Development if it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to accept responsibility for the payment of overseas pensions.
Mrs Barbara Castle
, Blackburn
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.
Hon. Nicholas Ridley
, Cirencester and Tewkesbury
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?
Mrs Barbara Castle
, Blackburn
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.
Hon. Nicholas Ridley
, Cirencester and Tewkesbury
Why did the Labour Party say before the election that it intended to agree with this proposal? Surely this is a broken pledge.
Mrs Barbara Castle
, Blackburn
The Labour Party has not made such a pledge.
Mr Robert Carr
, Mitcham
Is it or is it not a fact that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster wrote in the terms suggested?
Mrs Barbara Castle
, Blackburn
That is not a question for me.
Hon. Nicholas Ridley
, Cirencester and Tewkesbury
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.
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