§ SIR CHARLES FRASER (Lambeth, N.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will explain on what grounds a non-purchase Lieutenant Colonel is permitted to retire on a pension of £420 a year immediately on his retirement from the command of a regiment, while a purchase Lieutenant Colonel is compelled to remain on half-pay for five years on £200 a year, if unemployed, unless he repays to the Government the over-regulation value of the commission he held on the abolition of purchase, varying from £2,500 to £4,000, although he may have served many years longer than the non-purchase officer, and although he has sunk for ever sums such as £1,800 to £4,500?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe rule, so far as it affects purchase officers, is in exact accordance with the recommendation of the Royal Commission over which Lord Penzance presided, and has been in force ever since. It could only be abrogated by re-considering the provisions made on the recommendation of Lord Penzance.