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OSPA's primary objects are to represent,
safeguard and promote
the interests of its members in all matters relating to their pensions.
OSPA's efforts resulted in HMG agreeing to pay inflation-linked
increases to the basic colonial pensions (including widows' pensions)
through SPOS (Supplementary Pension for Overseas Service), and
subsequently to take over the payment of the pensions so that they are
now paid from British Government funds. Without
those measures almost all the pensions would have become worthless.
OSPA negotiated the grant of War Service Credit to qualifying HMOCS
personnel, and improvements for pensioners of the former Central
African Federation. OSPA has also secured substantial arrears of
pensions or SPOS for some individual pensioners. OSPA continues to negotiate with HMG on behalf of pensioners who served in Hong Kong, Southern Rhodesia/Zimbabwe and the Central African Federation, which have their own different pension arrangements. OSPA belongs to the Public Service
Pensioners' Council,
covering about 30 pensioners' associations representing some 2 million
pensioners. That Council seeks to influence the Government and
political parties in Britain in the interests of pensioners. Among the
aims is to end the Government's policy of denying annual increases to
the UK State Retirement Pension paid to pensioners (including Overseas
Service ones) who have gone to live in certain countries overseas, such
as Australia and South Africa. Also improved pension terms for some
widows. OSPA has been advising members about
their possible eligibility to be allowed to make back-payments of
British National Insurance contributions in order to qualify for an
increase in the State Retirement Pension. This applies in
certain cases where an officer can satisfy the official authorities
that he had not known that he could have paid voluntary National
Insurance contributions while serving overseas, and so consequently he
is receiving a reduced pension. There have been a number of
successful applications. OSPA can advise or help on other individual
questions relating
to Overseas Service pensions. This may involve approaching the relevant
pension paying authority, which is usually either the Overseas Pensions
Department of the Department for International Development, or the
Crown Agents Bank (Pensions Services). OSPA itself does not pay the pensions. Social and Other ActivitiesThe OSPA journal, the Overseas Pensioner, is published twice a year, free to members. It covers general Colonial Service topics, with memoirs, book reviews, obituary notices as well as any current pensions news. It also gives details of the activities of the various related Colonial Service groups. For more information about the Journal click here. OSPA gives encouragement and support to institutions which promote knowledge and understanding of Colonial Service matters. These include the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at London University, and University Libraries in London, Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh. Click to see a list of links and contacts. An annual Reunion Luncheon is held in London
each summer, to
co-incide with the Annual General Meeting. Other annual reunion
functions are
arranged in different parts of the country too. The OSPA office can supply (to members only) address lists of OSPA members by their territory of service, UK county, or country of residence, to help former colleagues to make contact. |
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