§ 3. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for India whether all officers of the Indo-European Telegraph Department in Persia contribute to an official family pension fund; and, if not, will he take steps to make this contribution obligatory on all officers alike in that department, in order that the widows and families of such officers may not be left destitute in future?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThere is no family pension fund for the Department, but officers appointed since 1st August, 1909, are required to subscribe to the General Provident Fund on attaining a substantive pay of Rs.100 a month or more. Other officers are admitted as optional subscribers. I have received no representations in favour of the establishment of an obligatory pension fund.
§ Colonel YATEWill my right hon. Friend not consider the urgency of making the contribution to this family pension fund obligatory as recommended by the Royal Commission on the Indian Civil Service?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINIf I rightly understood my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion it is that I should make it obligatory on persons who have already joined the service not subject to that condition. That is rather a grave step to take. As at present advised, I am not prepared to do it.