HC Deb 02 June 1924 vol 174 cc846-7
4. Sir C. YATE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, to avoid treating British members of the All-India Services on a different footing from British members of the provincial services in India in the matter of retirement on proportionate pensions under the reform scheme of 1919, the Secretary of State will now give effect to the original proposals of the Government of India and the recommendation of the Joint Committee and withdraw the limit prescribed in 1921?

Mr. RICHARDS

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave on the 21st May to a question on the same subject by the right hon. Member for Twickenham. My Noble Friend is in correspondence with the Government of India on the whole question of the position of these officers.

Sir C. YATE

When can I put down a question and know the result?

Mr. RICHARDS

I am afraid that I cannot answer that question.

Sir C. YATE

After Whitsuntide?

Mr. WARDLAW MILNE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give the House the latest figures of resignations under the system of proportionate pension in the senior Civil Services in India?

Mr. RICHARDS

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures asked for in the question.

Mr. MILNE

Can the hon. Gentleman say generally whether the figures do not how a remarkable increase?

Mr. RICHARDS

I could not answer that off-hand.

Following are the figures:

The number of retirements from the various services sanctioned up to date under the premature retirement rules is as follows:

Indian Civil Service … 87
Indian Police Service … 98
Indian Educational Service … 36
Indian Service of Engineers … 59
Indian Forest Service … 24
Indian Agricultural Service … 12
Veterinary Service … 5
Total … 321

A large proportion of these officers is still on leave pending retirement.