5. Colonel NEWMANasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, having regard to the changes that are being effected both in the Indian Army and in the method of Indian government generally, he has been able to arrange that in future the pensions of British officers in the Indian Army shall be guaranteed by the British Government?
§ Earl WINTERTONThere is nothing to add to what is said on this subject in Mr. Montagu's despatch of 9th February, 1922, published as Command Paper 1625, which applies equally to military and to civil pensions, except that my Noble Friend the present Secretary of State for India fully endorses his predecessor's remarks. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the Paper.
Colonel NEWMANIs it not the fact that, since the late Secretary of State issued his depatch, a resolution has been passed by the leaders of the Indian Sinn Fein movement which gives just cause for anxiety? Has the Noble Lord seen that resolution?
§ Earl WINTERTONI do not think that that has any bearing on the question at all. The despatch was quite clear. It said that it was inconceivable that in the 5 future, in any constitutional change as between India and this country, these questions should not be taken into full consideration, and it went on to say that the then Secretary of State, while he could not bind his successor, wished to make that fact clear.
§ Earl WINTERTONThat scarcely arises on this question, but, even if it did, I do not know what my hon. and gallant Friend means by "succeeding." All the facts relevant to this question will be taken into consideration by any subsequent British Government.
6. Colonel NEWMANasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that no insurance fund is established in connection with the Indian Military Service Family Pension Fund, which is charged directly on the Indian revenue under the military receipts and charges; and whether the British Government will in consequence give a definite guarantee that the fund is safe and that the pensions will be paid or, alternatively, will the fund be separated from Indian revenues and placed on some other basis?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe answer to the first part is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to paragraphs three and four of the Secretary of State's despatch to the Government of India, dated the 9th February, 1922, presented to Parliament as Command 1625, of which I will send him a copy. Under Section 20 (2) (c) of the Government of India Act, all Indian Military Service pensions, including pensions payable under Indian Military Service Family Pension Regulations, are a statutory charge on Indian revenues, and the terms of the paragraphs referred to in that despatch are equally applicable to the Indian Military and to the Civil Services. My Noble Friend does not at present contemplate any action of the nature suggested in the last sentence of the question.