1. Colonel BURNasked the Secretary of State for India why the revised scale 1420 of pensions for officers of the Indian Army laid down in the Memorandum circulated by the India Office is applicable only to those officers who served in paid military posts during the Great War; and why are those officers ineligible who served throughout the War in the Censor's Department and such like positions, giving their entire time to the service of their country, and who were debarred from serving in a theatre of war owing to age or some infirmity.
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe restriction of the revised scale of pensions to Indian Army officers who rendered paid military service during the Great War is in accordance with the rule laid down in the Royal Warrant of 13th September, 1919, regarding the revision of the rates of retired pay for officers of the British Service.
Colonel BURNDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think it is very unfair to these officers who are debarred from participating in the increase in pension, and who served in very dull posts during the War, and were equally doing service to the country?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI think all these rules must necessitate hard cases, but I do not think I could apply to officers in the Indian Army a different rule from that which the War Office applies to officers in the British Army.