§ MR. NOLAN (Louth, S.)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of non-commissioned officers and men retired on pension in the years 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, and 1901 respectively, with the average per head in each grade.
(Answer.) I am afraid I cannot undertake to give all the details asked for by the hon. Member, as their preparation would entail considerable clerical labour. The figures available are as follow :—
| Number of Non-Commissioned Officers Men discharged to Pension. | Average Rate and to Pension awarded. | |||
| —— | s. | d. | — | |
| 1896–1897 | 2,508 | 1 | 3¼ | per diem. |
| 1897–1898 | 2,609 | 1 | 4 | per diem. |
| 1898–1899 | 2,834 | 1 | 3¾ | per diem. |
| 1899–1900 | 2,547 | 1 | 2½ | per diem. |
| 1900–1901 | 5,738 | 1 | 4½ | per diem. |
§ The statistics for 1901–1902 are not yet quite complete.—(War Office.)