§ Sir C. YATEasked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that members of the Indian Civil Service are required to pay no contribution to the Indian Civil Service Family Pension Fund after retirement on pension, while officers of the Indian Army retiring on pension have to continue their contributions to the Indian Military Service Family Pension Fund to the date of their death, he will take steps to place the military officer on the same footing as the civil officer in this respect?
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§ Mr. MONTAGUThe decision to discontinue contributions from retired members of the Indian Civil Service was arrived at as the result of representations made by members of that Service, the cost being met from the realised surplus of subscriptions over liabilities. The method of disposal of the surplus of the Indian Military Service Family Pension scheme is now under consideration, and the question of utilising it to abolish subscriptions after retirement will be considered. No representations have, however, yet been received which indicate that this form of benefit would be desired by subscribers if, as is probable, it will involve the total or partial abolition of the reduction of subscriptions and increase of pensions which they at present enjoy.