§ LORD TRUROasked the Under Secretary of State for War, Whether the Circular Letter of May, 1866, did not guarantee to officers promoted on half-pay the same advantages in all respects as officers placed upon half-pay by reduction, and whether such guarantee has been adhered to in every case, particularly with reference to payment of over-regulation money? The noble Lord said, the Question might appear a very simple one to answer; but the matter it related to seriously affected certain officers of the Army. The effect of the Circular Letter to which his question referred was to place officers who were on half-pay by promotion upon precisely the same footing as officers who were upon half-pay by reduction. It was because in some instances the assurance contained in the Circular Letter had not been completely carried out that he put the Question which stood in his name upon the Paper. In anticipation of what the answer of the noble Lord the Under Secretary of State for War might be, he wished to state that there were cases of officers who had not received, prior to the abolition of Purchase, their over-regulation money from their regiments. The solemn, pledges given in the House of Commons by Mr. Gladstone, Lord Cardwell, and Captain Vivian, of the same nature as the guarantee which, in his opinion, the Circular Letter of 1866 contained, should, he thought, be redeemed.
§ VISCOUNT BURYsaid, Her Majesty's Government fully intended to do every justice to the officers in this matter. The Circular Letter of May, 1866, did guarantee to officers promoted on half-pay the same advantages as officers placed upon half-pay by reduction, and everything promised in that Letter would be granted. It, however, did not contain, and could not have contained, any reference to over-regulation money, which was abolished in 1871, and which, in 1876, was illegal and not recognized by the authorities.
§ House adjourned at a quarter past Eight o'clock, to Monday next, Eleven o'clock.