§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that, on the compulsory retirement under 68A. Circular, January 1882, of militia surgeons holding commissions from lord lieutenants of counties, at the age of sixty-five, the pension of six shillings a day, to which, under certain circumstances, such surgeons were entitled to has been refused them; and, if 1229 he will explain under what enactment the right to this pension is alleged to have been destroyed?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, in reply to my hon. and learned Friend, I have to state that until 1829 Militia surgeons were members of the permanent Staff, and, like other officers of that Staff, entitled to pensions on reduction of the force, or on retirement through age or infirmity. But no Militia surgeon appointed since 1829—that is to say, during the last 53 years—has been entitled to a retiring allowance. Her Majesty has always had the power to decide at what age Militia officers should cease to serve, and in 1872 this age was fixed at 60, although retirement was not enforced in every case. In 1881 it was decided that at 65 all Militia surgeons must retire, this being a boon to them compared with other Militia officers.