§ Captain BOWYERasked the Secretary of State for India whether the pensions of retired Indian Army officers has for many years remained absolutely unchanged despite the continuing increase in the cost of living; whether the rates of Indian Army officers' pensions are under consideration for revision: whether many retired officers have these pensions and nothing else on which to live, and there are cases of retired officers of considerable age endeavouring to live on a mere pittance; and, in view of the change which has taken place in the cost of living during recent years, what steps it is intended to take to make pensions of retired officers conform with these changes, and at what date his decision may be expected to be published?
§ Mr. FISHERThe subject of revising the scale of pensions for officers of the Indian Army has been receiving my attention for some time, and I hope shortly to be able to make an announcement on the subject. With regard to the classes of retired officers to whom the revised scale shall apply, the rule adopted will be that laid down for officers of the British service, namely, to all permanent regular officers who have given satisfactory paid military service during the War, including officers who, having retired on pension before the War, have been reemployed as officers during the War and have since reverted to retirement.