§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Dublin Co., S.)asked the Secretary of State for War, If gentlemen who have retired from Her Majesty's Military Service are subjected to forfeiture of any portion of retired pay, which they may have earned by past services as officers, upon their acceptance of any employment whatever under the governments of self-governing Colonies; if so, upon what principle is it considered that such action on the part of these gentlemen should render them liable to forfeiture of rewards for their past services in Imperial employment?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)Under present Regulations an officer on the Retired List taking Colonial employment is liable to a suspension or deduction of a portion of his retired pay, if that retired pay has been earned in part by services under a Colonial Government. These Regulations have been under the consideration of the War Office and the Treasury; and I am glad to say that an alteration has been approved which will remove any well-founded grievance in connection with them. The new Regulations will require legislative sanction, and a Bill for this purpose will be brought in early next Session.