27.
asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has received a satisfactory reply from the United Arab Republic regarding tax deductions made by that Government from pensions of ex-British officials contrary to an agreement made in March, 1960; and if he will make certain that British ex-officials, all in the oldest category, do not suffer from default on the part of the United Arab Republic to honour an agreement.
I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the Financial Agreement of 28th February, 1959. No formal reply to our Note of 26th March, 1960, has been received from the Government of the United Arab Republic, in spite of various reminders; but we know that, in fact, some pensioners have been receiving their pensions in full since September, 1961. Her Majesty's Government will continue to press the Government of the United Arab Republic for an answer.
Does not my hon. Friend think that it is right and proper that the Government should in the meanwhile pay the difference to these pensioners, many of whom are in their late eighties and nineties and feel any cut in their pensions very severely? Until such time as the Egyptian Government have honoured their agreement, should we not stand between these cuts and the pensioners?
I certainly agree with my hon. Friend when she talks about the age of these pensioners and the difficulties they are in. However, it appears that most of them have been receiving their pension in full since September, 1961. We hope that the Government of the United Arab Republic will give us a reply as soon as possible.
Will my hon. Friend press the Egyptian Government to refund the balance which is owing?
Yes.