§ Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for India whether, seeing that the increase in the maximum pensions granted to lieut.-colonels and brevet-colonels of the Indian Army who were induced or required to serve their full period of 32 years before the introduction of the new scale of pensions amounts only of 14.3 per cent, on the pensions they had already earned under the old regulations, and having regard to the statement of the Secretary to the Treasury that the average increase in the pensions granted to civil servants of corresponding grades to enable them to meet the present increased cost of living amounts to 54 per cent., he will consider the justice of allowing lieut.-colonels and brevet-colonels of the Indian Army, many of whom have served in the field during 588W the recent War, to count for pension the Indian and service elements for the full period up to 32 years, they were induced or required to serve, seeing that the addition of these elements will not increase the pensions of these officers beyond 27 per cent, on the pre-War rates, or one-half the increase granted to civil servants who did not necessarily serve out of England?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe pensions of officers of the Indian Army are based, not upon the pensions of civil servants, but upon the pensions in the British Army. The maximum pension for a lieut.-colonel in the British Army is £600, and I see no ground for raising the maximum of a lieut.-colonel in the Indian Army beyond £800.