Lieutenant-Colonel CHARLES MURRAYasked the Secretary of State for India whether retired officers of the Royal Engineers, with more than twenty years' service under the Indian Government, are entitled to an additional or supplementary pension under paragraph 556 of the Royal Warrant; how many of such supplementary pensions have been granted during the past five years; and what are the circumstances which influence the Secretary of State in granting or withholding such Additional pensions?
§ Mr. FISHERThe pensions of officers of the Royal Engineers, who have completed more than twenty years' Indian service and are under the 1904 conditions of service consist of the retired pay admissible under the Royal Warrant plus an additional pension varying according to the length of Indian service, and calculated according to the rules laid down on the subject in the Indian Army Regulations. As retirements of officers (except in very special cases) were discontinued on the outbreak of the War, there have been very few of these pensions granted within the last five years. Retirements are now permitted and any Royal Engineer officer, whose retirement is approved and who is qualified for Indian pension under the Regulations, would have the additional pension referred to.