COLONEL, HUGHES-HALLETT (Rochester)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, If it be the intention of Her Majesty's Government to grant compensation to those officers of Her Majesty's Indian Army who, by reason of the Regulations issued by the Government of India in 1883 and 1884, limiting the periods of regimental command, have boon deprived of their commands and, in many cases, relegated to half-pay, thus suffering great professional as well as pecuniary loss; whether, at the time the Regulations referred to were issued, these officers were already holding commands, and were guaranteed by Act of Parliament, Acts 21 & 22 Vict. ss. 56 to 58, the privilege of continuing to hold them until promoted to brigade command or until retired on full pension; and, whether, if there be no present intention of granting these officers compensation for the great professional and pecuniary loss they have sustained by the issue of those Regulations, which contravene the Acts of Parliament referred to, the Government will grant a Committee to inquire into the merits of the cases, and to afford such relief and compensation as may seem desirable?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir John GORST) (Chatham)The Government has no intention of granting compensation to officers who have to resign their commands under the Regulations referred to. No officer is, under those Regulations, relegated to half-pay. I cannot admit that the Act of Parliament referred to has the effect stated. The Secretary of State is of opinion that the appointment of a Committee to inquire into these matters would not be productive of any public advantage.