§ MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether the widows of Indian officers who reside in England receive from military funds an annual pension of £250 6s. 4d., while such widows as elect to reside in India receive in rupees the equivalent of only £152 8s.. l0d.; and, if so, whether he will explain the reason for such difference.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The widow of a subscriber to the Bengal Military Fund ranking as a lieutenant-colonel receives £250 6s. 4d. a year when resident in England, and Rs. 190.11.6 a month (which, at the present rate of exchange is the equivalent of £152 11s. 6d. a year in sterling) when resident in India. These rates were fixed by the subscribers to the fund many years ago, when it was managed by their representatives, and I see no sufficient reason, as at present advised, for diminishing the one rate or increasing the other.