§ SIR SEYMOUR KING () Hull, CentralTo ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will arrange that widows in the receipt of pensions from the old military funds while residing in India may be allowed to draw their pensions through their agents in England; and if he will state whether any expense or loss to the Indian Exchequer would be caused by the arrangement.
(Answered by Secretary Lord George Hamilton.) On the 1st March, 1900, in reply to a similar Question, I pointed out to my hon. friend that the present arrangements are exceptionally favourable to annuitants, and informed him that I was not prepared to sanction the payment in England of these pensions at sterling rates during the residence in India of the annuitants for more than one year. Such an arrangement would have the effect of increasing the burden on the revenues of India, and I regret that I must adhere to the decision already announced.