MR. BRODIE HOAREOn behalf of Sir SEYMOUR KING, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the great 1149 delay which repeatedly occurs in the admission of officers in the Indian Civil Service, formerly classed as uncovenanted, to their pensions at the end of their leave at home, and the consequent hardship on men who have retired, owing to the inability of the India Office to pay them their pensions until notified of the amount from India; and whether, if the Indian Government cannot be induced to adopt measures to fix and report the amount of pension previously to notified retirements, or coincidently with retirement, it can be arranged that such retired officers who have arrived in this country may draw a certain proportion of their pensions based on the record of the length and character of their services, or whether he will consider what steps can be taken to remedy the inconvenience?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONI am sorry to say that delay does occasionally occur, but in most cases it is owing to the fact that the officer in question has applied for a special pension, which it is not in the power of the audit officers to pass without special authority. Rules have been laid down in India for the express purpose of accelerating, as far as possible, the payment of pensions, especially in cases where there is some doubt as to the proper amount of the pension; and the India Office, in such cases, pays promptly a provisional sum, subject to adjustment afterwards.