§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTH,in moving for a Return showing the numbers of officers of the Army and Navy respectively who during the last 15 years had commuted their pensions; the Return to show the numbers for each year separately, and the partial and whole commutations to be shown in separate columns, said, his object in asking for the information was to ascertain the extent to which the practice of commutation had been carried in view of the large number of officers who, having commuted their pensions and received a lump sum of money, had afterwards fallen into the hands of speculators and others, and been completely ruined.
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Moved, That there be laid before the House—
Returns showing the number of officers of the Army and Navy respectively, who during the last fifteen years have commuted their pensions; the Return to show the numbers for each year separately, and the partial and whole commutations to be shown in separate columns."—(The Viscount Sidmouth.)
§ LORD ELPHINSTONEsaid, there was no objection on the part of the Admiralty to grant the Return.
LORD HARRISsaid, he would be happy to give the information from the War Office if the noble Viscount would be satisfied with a Return of commuted pensions from the year 1880 inclusive. They could not go beyond 1880 without complicating the Return with the operations consequent on the abolition of purchase in the Army.
§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTHsaid, he should be happy to change the terms of his Motion in the way suggested by his noble Friend.
§ Motion amended, and agreed to.