§ MR. MACFARLANE (Argyll)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India if a Memorial has been received from the daughters of deceased Bengal Civil servants complaining that the pensions to which they are entitled of £100 a year in England are reduced when they reside in India to the equivalent of about £45, or 720 rupees; and if he can inform the House upon what principle and for what reason ladies residing with relations in India are deprived of more than half the pension paid for by their fathers?
*MR. GEORGE RUSSELLThe answer to the first question is, Yes. In reply to the second question, I have to inform the hon. Member that under the Rules of the Bengal Civil Fund there have been ever since 1804 two rates of pension for the daughters of deceased subscribers—namely, 720 rupees for residents in India and £100 for residents in Europe. It is upon these rates that the subscriptions of 532 deceased members have been calculated; and if either rate were to be raised the pensioners would be receiving more than has been paid for by their fathers, and the excess would have to be provided at the cost of the Indian taxpayer.
§ MR. MACFARLANEIn consequence of the hon. Gentleman's answer, I beg to give notice that I shall call attention to this matter in Committee.