§ Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for India, considering that officers who entered the Indian Army after 1st July, 1881, other than those who rose to the rank of general, were not elegible to serve on for more than 32 years or receive more pension than £700 per annum, why officers who entered the Indian Army before the 1st July, 1881, and were entitled, under Indian Army Regulations, to serve on for 38 years and to receive a pension of £750 per annum, should now, under the revised pension rules of 1919, be reduced to the same rate of pension as those who only served for 32 years; and under what powers or Regulations he is justified in breaking the terms under which officers entered the Indian Army prior to the 1st July, 1881?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe officers referred to entered the Indian Army on conditions which promised them pensions of £750 a year after 38 years' service. These pensions have now been raised to £800 or £900, so that there has been no reduction of pension, nor any breach of the terms on which they entered the service, except in a direction favourable to them. Otherwise, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on the 10th November?