§ MR. SMEATON (Stirlingshire)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that retired officers of the British service employed on civil duty are mulcted in 10 per cent. of their salaries on account of their pensions, while retired officers of the Indian Army, employed on exactly the same kind of duty, suffer no deduction from their salaries on account of their pensions; and that the retired officers of the British service have smaller pensions than the retired officers of the Indian Army; and whether he will consider the justice of abolishing this discrimination, and permit the retired British officers to draw their full pay while performing 143 civil duties and, if necessary, amend the Superannuation Act and Regulations of 1887 to meet the case.
(Answered by Mr. Asquith.) The facts are as stated; but, as I explained in reply to a Question by my hon. friend on the 22nd instant, though for administrative reasons the deduction is made from the civil salary, it is intended to be equivalent to the suspension of so much of the retired pay as may be deemed to be compensation for loss of employment. There is no intention of paying for the civil duties, as such, less than whatever may be the recognised rate of remuneration for those duties. Accordingly, where the retired pay is not a charge against the British Exchequer, there is no deduction from the civil salary. Whether, in such circumstances, a reduction in the rate of retired pay should be made by the authority which bears the charge for the retired pay is a matter for consideration by that authority; and, on that point, so far as it affects the Indian Army, I must refer my hon. friend to the Secretary of State for India. As I stated on the 22nd instant, I see no sufficient reason for amending The Superannuation Act, 1887, and the rules made thereunder.