§ Mr. HOWARD GRITTEN(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that large numbers of ex-officers, demobilised from the Indian Army under the recent Order, are now arriving in England to swell the already long list of ex-officers, who are still without employment and apparently without an early probability of it; and since most employers and managers of works, because of the stagnation of trade, neither have any vacant posts to offer nor can even take new apprentices and premium pupils; and whereas, although ex-officers discharged from the Indian Army are granted an allowance for a certain number of years, yet, if they cannot now obtain a business or professional training, will be without any means of earning a livelihood at the end of that period, what immediate schemes of training for these men he proposes, or what other practical methods he suggests for dealing with this emergency?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)The Secretary of State fully realises the necessity of assisting Indian Army officers affected by the Reduction Scheme to obtain civil employment, and I will send the hon. Member a copy of a pamphlet giving details of openings which have been arranged overseas. In addition the terms of compensation provide under certain conditions for an allowance of £200 per annum to unmarried and £300 per annum to married officers for a period not exceeding three years from the date of retirement. The object of this allowance, acceptance of which involves no diminution in the lump sum gratuity, is to assist the officer to fit himself for civil employment. The Secretary of State does not contemplate any further steps.
§ Mr. GRITTENIs the Noble Lord not aware that in view of the great lack of 1892 employment there is scarcely any possibility of these officers earning a livelihood when their allowance comes to an end?
§ Earl WINTERTONIt is quite impossible within the limits of an answer to a question to deal with this subject. As I have explained in nay answer, it is for that reason that openings have been arranged overseas. There is every reason to expect, as a result of the land settlement scheme, that a very large number of these officers will be absorbed and he provided with useful employment for the rest of their lives.