HC Deb 17 February 1830 vol 22 cc569-70
Mr. Gordon

said, that, in compliance with repeated wishes which had been expressed to him from various quarters, he begged again to call the attention of the House to the subject of Military Officers holding high Civil situations, and retaining their Military Pay in addition to their Civil Allowances. The impropriety of such a proceeding was increased by the consideration of the severe regulations respecting officers on half-pay, whose affidavit had been recently altered, and who, on claiming their half-pay, were called upon to swear that they had no civil appointment, and did not receive from Government any other allowance than their half-pay. He was aware that a distinction was attempted to be set up in this respect between officers on half-pay and officers on full-pay; but he considered it to be unfair and untenable. If the regulations were not strictly applicable to officers on full-pay, it could only be because the circumstance of their holding civil appointments had not been contemplated. How was the case? A General Officer, receiving his full-pay from what is called the Unappropriated General Officers' Fund, held a high civil office, the salary of which he also received. It should also be remembered that a General Officer having a regiment not only received his full-pay as Colonel, but all the various allowances derived from clothing the regiment, &c. Was it fitting that an Officer thus circumstanced should be qualified to hold a high civil appointment, and receive the emoluments attached to it? The same thing happened in the Navy. The Lord of the Admiralty whom he saw opposite to him, he believed, received his full-pay as an Admiral, while at the same time he held the situation and enjoyed the emoluments of a Lord of the Admiralty. It might be said that the Lords of the Admiralty were not well enough paid. Granted. But let them be paid as Lords of the Admiralty. As in his opinion the subject was not unworthy the consideration of the House, and as the right hon. Gentleman opposite had told him that he had no objection to the Motion, he moved for a Return of the Name, Rank, and Yearly or other Pay, Allowances, and Emoluments, derived from whatever sources, of all Military and Naval Officers holding Civil or Official Situations.

The Motion was agreed to.