§ Mr. HANBURY (Preston)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what alterations have recently been made in the system of payment by the War Office to Army agents, and what are the precise duties which Army agents will in future perform for the War Office, and on what terms their remuneration is to be fixed?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETAY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe alterations which will take effect from the 1st of January next are that the firms now acting as Army agents will issue the pay of officers without any charge upon the public for their commission. Messrs. Cox pay the regiments of Guards and distribute the estates of deceased soldiers. These duties it is proposed, for the public convenience, to leave in their hands. 432 The remuneration has not yet been fixed, but it will probably amount to about £1,800 a year, as against £21,000 paid to the agents for their present services.