§ 14. Sir C. YATEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India what decision has been arrived at as a result of the reference to the Government of India regarding the question of applying the increased pen- 10 sion rates in the case of officers of the Bengal Pilot Service who retired before the 1st December, 1919; and whether there is any reason why these officers of the Bengal Pilot Service should riot be placed on the same footing as the officers of other Indian services to whom the date of 23rd July, 1913, is applicable?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe Government of India recommended that no concession should be granted, mainly on the ground that the earnings of the pilots before the War had been on a liberal scale, and that the Public Service Commission had held that the service was adequately remunerated as regards both pay and pension. The Secretary of State in Council has accepted the recommendation of the Government of India.
§ Sir C. YATECan the Noble Lord not put these pilots on the same footing as other civil servants?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have looked carefully into the question, and I do not think the pilots are on the same footing. Their earnings before the War were higher than those of other services, and it is difficult to get a fair comparison.