§ MR. SMEATON (Stirlingshire)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the proposals made last year by the Government of India to the effect that the previous commissioned service, out of India, of officers of the Indian Army up to a period of five years should be allowed to reckon as service towards Indian pension have been sanctioned.
§ MR. BUCHANANThe proposal of the Government of India has been referred to the War Office, because it involves a charge on British revenues, as indicated in the Secretary of State's Answer to the hon. Member's Question of 2nd April last. The reply of the Army Council has not yet been received. The Secretary of State has, however, separately sanctioned certain concessions, including a new pension for thirty years service, with the object of relieving the hardship entailed on certain officers of the Indian Army by the rule which limits non-Indian service counting for pension to two years.
§ MR. SMEATONMay we hope for an early settlement of the question?
§ MR. BUCHANANI hope to soon get a reply from the Army Council.