§ COLONEL HUGHES-HALLETT (Rochester)asked the Secretary of State for War, who are the Members of the "Army Purchase Commission" who were appointed, when it was resolved to abolish purchase in the Army, to regulate the sums payable to officers of the Army on their retirement from the Service; whether that Commission is intended to be a permanent institution; and, if so, what are the present duties of that Commission; what services its members have been rendering since they disposed of all matters connected with the abolition of purchase; how many sittings they have held, and the dates of those sittings, since 1871; and, what are, and have been, the salaries of the several Commissioners, in addition to any salaries they may already be in receipt of, in respect of any official capacity in which they may be engaged?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The members of the Army Purchase Commission appointed in 1871 were Sir Edward Lugard, Earl De La Warr, and Mr. O'Dowd. The Commission is necessarily temporary, and will expire when the functions entrusted to it cease. Its present duties have reference to the claims of officers under the Regulation of the Forces Act, 1871. About 2,000 such claims still remain. There are also more than 200 officers of the late Indian Artillery and Engineers whose claims to compensation under the Act of 1874 have to be dealt with. Her Majesty has further committed to the Commission the duty of advising the Secretary of State for War as to the compensation to be awarded to certain officers for loss inflicted on them by new retirement Regulations. The business of the Commissioners is not conducted at formal meetings, but from day to day as may be required. Originally the first Commissioner had £1,500 a-year, the second £750, each with the pay of a General Officer in addition, and Mr. O'Dowd was 1627 allowed £200 a-year as an addition to his salary as Deputy Judge Advocate General. The present Commissioners are only two—Mr. O'Dowd, who is paid as stated above, and Colonel Deedes, who does not receive any addition to his salary as an Assistant Under Secretary of State. Besides the Commissioners, the Secretary (Mr. Wyllie) receives £600 a-year. He was appointed, in July, 1886, for a limited term of five years.