§ 31. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office under what circumstances the 3 per cent. cut in the pensions of Army officers is being increased to cuts of 6 per cent. and 8 per cent. in the case of officers who have previously commuted a portion of their Army pension?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Duff Cooper)The increase in the cut in officers' retired pay from 8 per cent. to 11 per cent., based on reduction in the cost of living, is made on the standard rate of the full original pension, and not on the uncommuted portion only. This is the normal practice, and it would obviously be unfair to officers who have not commuted any part of their retired pay to calculate the revised rate by any other method.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDoes the hon. Gentleman think it fair to the officers referred to in the question that they should have this increased deduction made in respect of a bargain concluded many years ago and considered satisfactory to both parties and as a result of which the whole matter was regarded as being at an end?
§ Mr. COOPERNo, Sir, the matter was not considered to be at an end. The officers hoped to continue to draw a certain amount of their pension which they had not commuted—a certain amount of their retired pay—and that was, they were well aware, liable to reduction.