SIR TREVOR LAWRENCEasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether it is the case that, in consequence of the low rates of pension granted to officers of the Indian Army and Staff Corps, the existing regulations for retirement are practically ineffective, the result being that officers remained in the service until they obtained Colonel's allowances; -whether it is the case that there are now about 1,200 field officers so remaining, whose services are not required by the State, and who occupy positions unsuited to their rank; and, whether a heavy financial burden is thus placed upon the State.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, a scheme for the revision of Indian military pensions is under the immediate consideration of the Council of India, and a revised scale will probably come into operation within a few weeks. It is, however, impossible to say whether it will have the effect of inducing many of the officers entitled to serve on for colonel's allowances to retire before their attainment. The latest Returns—the 1st of January, 1881—show that there are in the three Presidencies 1,277 lieutenant-colonels and majors, not in receipt of colonels' allowances, of the three Staff Corps and local armies, of whom 136 are employed in army staff, 430 in regimental employment, and 33 on general (military) duty. The remainder are either on furlough or in civil employment. There are, therefore, only 33 field officers in India—namely, 24 lieutenant colonels, and nine majors—whose services are not immediately required by the State. There are, however, about '20 on furlough at home, who have been granted special furlough on account of the in- 843 ability to find employment for them. With respect to the employment of officers in positions unsuited to their rank, this can only apply to regimental employment. In the 105 corps of Cavalry and Infantry in the Bengal Presidency, including the regiments under the direct authority of the Viceroy in Council, there are only 18 officers in positions which, may not with advantage and entire propriety be held by field officers. They are all majors, and a great number of them do actually hold, temporarily, squadrons or wing commands. Of the 37 Bombay regiments, there are but four majors actually serving with corps in the position of captains out of 15 attached to such positions in The Army List. In the 45 regiments of the Madras Army, there are, out of 71 field officers shown as filling captains' positions, only 41 actually so employed. Accordingly, so far from there being 1,200 field officers whose services are not required by the State, and who occupy positions unsuited to their rank, there are only 33 officers of the first category, or, reckoning those at home on special furlough, 53, and between 50 and 60 majors doing the duty which would otherwise be done by captains or subalterns. This cannot be said to constitute a heavy financial burden.
§ LORD ELCHOwished to know whether the attention of the noble Marquess had been called to the fact that a striking disparity existed between the pension and retirement regulations of the Staff Corps of the Indian Army and those of the new Line regiments?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI have already stated that there is under consideration a revised scale of pensions for the Indian Staff Corps which will be got out in a very short time. The conditions of service between the officer of the new Line Corps and the Staff Corps differ so radically that no comparison can be drawn between the scales suitable to either. The new Line Corps officers are subjected to compulsory retirement during various periods of their service. The Staff Corps officer can claim to continue his service until he obtains colonel's allowances, over £1,100 a-year. The new pension scale for the Staff Corps will, it is believed, be found adequate to meet the fair requirements of the service and claims of the officers.