§ SIR SEYMOUR KING (Hull, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has under consideration the expediency of extending to retired officers of the Civil Service in India the privileges enjoyed by Military Officers of commuting a portion of their annuities; and whether, since in the case of covenanted civilians a portion of their annuities has been provided by deductions from their pay while in Service, there is any objection in principle to allowing members of the Civil Service to commute such proportion of their annuities as have thus been provided?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAIt has been held that, as a portion of the annuity of a covenanted civil servant is provided by deductions from his pay while in the service, the recognition of a legal assignment of such an annuity cannot be refused; and, consequently, there is the less reason in his case for allowing commutation, which, as stated in a Treasury Circular of 1882, "exposes the State to the frustration of its policy for securing a lifelong provision for its servants." It is, therefore, opposed to the public interest, and I cannot hold out any hope of departing from the previous practice of the India Office.