§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether it is intended that His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge shall receive any provision from Public Funds on his retirement from the post of Commander-in-Chief?
MR. JAMES LOWTHERBefore the question is answered I desire to ask my right hon. Friend whether it is the case that the arrangements consequent upon the retirement of His Royal High ness the Commander-in Chief practically involved the abolition of that office; and whether it is not the fact that the principle which has been generally adopted in regard to the abolition of offices, and invariably in cases of long service, has not carried with it the continuance of full salary for life?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYIn answer to the question on the paper, it is not intended to make special provision for His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge out of the Public Funds when he relinquishes the office of Commander-in-Chief. Staff appointments carry no special pension whatever. All officers, on retiring from the service, receive a retiring allowance in accordance with their rank. This allowance, under the new regulations, amounted, in the case of a field-marshal, to £1,300 a year. His Royal Highness is, however, under the old regulations, entitled to unattached pay at the higher rate of £2,200 a year as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. With regard to the question put by my right hon. Friend, I am told that a Staff appointment cannot be regarded as coming within the ordinary category of those posts in regard to which special terms are given to the holders, on abolition.
MR. JAMES LOWTHERDo I understand that retiring allowance is irrespective of the other sum mentioned by my right hon. Friend as being due as pay for the honorary colonelcy?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYYes, Sir. The retiring allowance is in respect of the military rank of the Commander-in-Chief.