§ Captain BOWYERasked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether he is aware that General Routine Order No. 1,805 of 18th September, 1916, issued from General Headquarters, France, called for applications from re-employed officers of the Indian Army to be allowed to count their re-employed service during the War as added to their general pre-retirement service towards both increase of pension and promotion under the time scales of the Indian Army Regulations; that no replies were given to these applications, duly submitted through the authorised channels; that the India Office caused disappointment by declaring the above General Routine Order to have been published by mistake and wrongly worded; and whether he will state whence this Order originated?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Routine Order referred to was based on a letter from the War Office inviting officers who had formerly belonged to the Indian Army, and who wished for reinstatement, to send in their names for consideration. It was not intended to apply to retired officers, but only to officers who had resigned their commission, and thus ceased to belong to the Indian Army. Further, the Government of India decided that no applications from officers over 35 years of age could be entertained.
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