§ 6. Mr. JOYNSON - HICKSasked the Secretary for India whether he is aware that many senior officers of the Indian Army invalided from the front or otherwise unemployed are still drawing less pay than the pensions to which they are already entitled; whether they are precluded from retiring during the War; and whether he will take steps to remedy this?
Mr. FISHERSuch cases are possible. The officers concerned have in ordinary times the option of retiring on the pension due to their service or of remaining on the unemployed list and counting their service on it for increased pension. In almost every case they prefer to remain unemployed and earn the higher pension. During the War the officer is obliged by Regulation to remain on the active list, but the maximum pension is issued in lieu of unemployed pay as soon as it has been earned. I do not think, therefore, that the refusal to allow them to retire during the War involves any hardship.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that instead of their Army pay these gentlemen are now being paid their pensions to which they would otherwise be entitled?
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSMeantime they are losing money by their work.
§ Colonel YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire into the hardship of these officers in having their unemployed pay cut regularly when they are employed as censors and in other posts under the Government?