§ MR. W. H. SMITHasked the Secretary to the Treasury, If he would state to 2020 the House on what grounds the privilege of commuting their pensions has been withdrawn from officers superannuated from the minor establishments of the Revenue Departments; and, whether there is any intention on the part of the Treasury to reconsider the matter?
§ MR. BAXTER,in reply, said, that the hon. Member was mistaken in supposing that the privilege of commuting their pensions had been withdrawn from the officers superannuated from the minor establishments of the Revenue Departments. Such a privilege had never existed. The operation of the Act 34 & 35 Vict. c. 36, applied only to officers in Her Majesty's Naval or Land Forces, or to persons who had retired or had been removed from public civil offices in consequence of the abolition of their offices, or for the purpose of facilitating improvements, and to whom annual pensions had been granted by way of compensation. Officers coming within the provisions of the Act had been allowed to commute, except in cases where the heads of the Department were unable to certify that there was no definite prospect of re-employment.