§ MR. FAWCETTasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the scheme for Army Retirement and Promotion has been submitted to the Secretary of State for India in Council, and also to the Governor General in Council; whether any opinions have been expressed by them as to the financial charge which it will throw on the revenues of India; and, if so, whether he will lay these opinions on the Table of the House; and, whether he can state the capitalized value of the charge which will have to be borne by the revenues of India if the scheme should be carried out?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTON,in reply, said, the scheme for Army retirement and promotion was submitted to the Secretary of State for India in Council, and received his full consideration. There was not time to send the draft Warrant to India; but the Report of the Royal Commission, whose recommendation it closely followed, was considered by the Governor General in Council and the local Governments and Commanders-in-Chief, and in all material points was concurred in by them. It had not been practicable to estimate the financial charge which the scheme might throw on the revenues of India, and no opinion, therefore, had been expressed on that point.
He wished to correct a statement which he made the other day as to the charge for the present financial year. He had stated that it would be about £30,000; but he found on inquiry that it would be very much less. With regard to the last Question of the hon. Member, he could not state what would be the capitalized value of the charge to be borne by the revenues of India, as it very much depended on the voluntary action of the officers who would be brought under the warrant.