§ COLONEL DYOTTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, having granted permission to an Officer to retire from the service by the sale of his commission, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to restore to such Officer a portion only of the regulation price which he had paid; and, if so, whether it is intended to pay any and what amount of interest upon the balance due to such Officer as long as the same shall remain unpaid; and, further, in the case of Lieutenant Mackinnon, late on the half-pay of the 16th Lancers, whose name appeared in The Gazette of the 31st May last, it is intended to hand over to that Officer £250 only, instead of £1,190, being the amount of the regulation price which Lieutenant Mackinnon had paid for his commission?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, it is intended to pay the money as soon as it shall have been voted by Parliament. The delay in submitting the Vote has been owing to the delay in passing the Bill. I am informed that Lieutenant Mackinnon was allowed to sell without waiting, and gave his consent in writing to the conditions. There is certainly no intention, on the part of the Government, to pay interest on the balance.