§ 4. Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has yet done any thing in accordance with the recommending of the Joint Committee on Indian Reforms to give members of the Indian Civil Service an option of retirement on proportionate pensions; and whether he is aware that there is an increasing number of Civil servants who wish to take advantage of this recommendation?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Government of India will shortly receive a despatch from me in answer to one in which they forwarded Memorials. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
§ 5. Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that there is grave discontent amongst the senior ranks of the Indian Civil Service in regard to pensions; and whether he will publish the accounts of the pensions fund at the date of its termination?
§ Mr. MONTAGUMemorials on the subject have been addressed to the Government of India, and I expect to receive very shortly their considered views regarding them. As to the latter part of the question, I am not sure if the hon. Member realises that no fund has existed since 1874, when the assets and liabilities of the old Civil Annuity Funds were transferred to the Secretary of State, who undertook that subscribers to those funds should be entitled on retirement to annuities at certain rates subject to certain conditions.
§ 11. Major GLYNasked the Secretary of State for India whether he has considered the advisability of issuing the necessary orders to ensure that all members of the Indian Civil Service shall be compelled to take leave home at least once in every six years; whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to how many Indian civil servants continue at duty without having had leave for the last 10 years; and what are the causes of this state of affairs?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI do not think that the issue of any compulsory orders to 1154 the effect suggesed would be altogether practicable or likely to commend itself to members of the Indian Civil Service. During the War a number of officers of that and other Civil Services were absent from India on military service and of those who remained many could not be granted leave. It is now being granted more freely, a special concession in respect of privilege leave has been sanctioned in the case of those detained in India during the War, and tin; leave rules in general have recently boon made more liberal and flexible. I would not propose to circularise the several Governments to obtain the information asked for, but will send to the Government of India copy of the question and this reply.