§ MR. TREVELYANI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War a Question of which I have given him private Notice. I wish to ask, Whether the cost of the Government scheme of promotion and retirement for the Household Cavalry, Guards, and Line will exceed or fall short of that of the scheme proposed by the Commissioners—that is to say, £1,384,000 annually for the first five years, as against the present charge of £920,000; whether the permanent increased charge to the public over and above the present expenditure will exceed or fall short of £350,000 annually, as estimated by the Commissioners; and what proportion of these increased charges will fall upon the Indian Exchequer?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYI will reply as fully as I can to the Questions which the hon. Member has addressed to MR. As far as I can ascertain the cost of the Government scheme of promotion and retirement will fall short of the Estimate of the Commissioners, and the permanent increased charges will also fall short of that Estimate. With respect to what proportion of the increased charge will fall upon the Indian Exchequer, it is impossible, at present, to ascertain that fact, as it depends upon a variety of contingencies which will be taken into consideration as they arise.
§ MR. TREVELYANgave Notice that on going into Committee of Supply on the Supplementary Estimate for Promotion and. Retirement in the Army, he should move—
That this House, while fully prepared to consider the question of Retirement with a view to secure a sufficient flow of Promotion in the Army, cannot, at this late period of the Session, proceed to sanction a scheme which demands mature and careful consideration, inasmuch as it entails a large increase of expenditure on the English and Indian Exchequers, and materially affects the future of our Military system.