§ 15. Colonel YATEasked the Under-Secretary for India whether he is aware 1646 that in the case of an unmarried daughter of a deceased officer, in receipt of a pension of £40 a year from the Madras Military Fund, who went out to India, this pension under the orders of the Comptroller of Military Accounts was after two years reduced to Rs.350 or £23 6s. 8d. a year on the grounds that, under the orders of the Secretary of State for India, pensioners going out to India were allowed a sterling rate of pension for a period of two years only; and whether the Secretary of State will consider the question of altering this rule and of giving widows and daughters of officers of the Indian Army who may happen to go out and reside in India the benefit of their full pension?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe facts stated in the first part of the question are substantially correct. Under the rules of the fund, framed by the subscribers themselves, pensions drawn in India are payable on the rupee basis. It is solely through a concession of the Secretary of State in Council that pensioners visiting India are allowed for two years the benefit of the high sterling rate of exchange of about 2s. 3½d. per rupee allowed by the fund rules to pensioners residing out of India. The concession has been made at the cost of the Indian taxpayer, and the Secretary of State does not propose to extend its scope.
§ Colonel YATEIs it not the case that this concession is made at the cost of the officers concerned in the fund, and that the Indian taxpayer has nothing to do with it?
§ Mr. MONTAGUOne has to arrange with the assistance of the taxpayer.
§ Colonel YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman bring this question before the actuaries of the fund to see whether anything can be done, so far as concerns the officers, who themselves subscribe to that fund?
§ Mr. MONTAGUCertainly; I will bring the hon. and gallant Gentleman's suggestion before them, but I think it is not reasonable to expect that the pensions of those who reside for a long time in India should be paid at the same rate as the pensions of people who live out of India.