§ 4. Colonel Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any letter has been recently circulated by the Indian Government to all British officers in the Indian Army stating that, as two-thirds of the total establishment are surplus, it is proposed to make an offer to all surplus officers of a sum of money on the condition that they resign their commissions; if this is so, whether any such offer has yet been made and how much it is proposed to pay by way of compensation to the officers concerned for the sudden termination of their military career; and if such offer will take into account that in the majority of cases these officers have had no training whatever for any appointment in civil life and provide adequate compensation to ensure that all officers concerned will be able to fit themselves for civilian appointments free from undue financial embarrassment?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have no official information as to the circulation of such a letter, but am sure that the surplus cannot have been stated at a figure so wide of the mark. It is the case that a large number of retirements will shortly be carried out to eliminate an excess existing almost entirely in the junior ranks. Compensation will be on the same general basis as that to be given 213 to surplus officers of the British Service, to whom the same considerations apply. But in fixing it the fact will be taken into account that pay and pensions are higher in the Indian Service.