§ MR. MONKsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether there is any objection to the provisions of the Pensions Commutation Act (1869), being extended to the Civil Service generally?
§ MR. STANSFELDsaid, in reply, that the Act referred to in the Question of the hon. Member was purposely restricted to officers in the Army and Navy, and clerks in the War Office and Admiralty. The object was to alleviate the hardships which might occur in consequence of the reductions contemplated, and which had taken place in those establishments. The Government were not prepared at this moment to admit that it was advisable to extend the Act to the Civil Service generally. On the contrary, they thought it advisable to wait and see how the Act worked in these two great Departments before taking any further steps in the matter.