§ 94. Mr. W. NICHOLSONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office 546W whether he is aware that it has been decided that the pensions of retired officers shall be reduced by 11 per cent., and that an officer who retired on a pension of £800 a year, and who commuted £300 of that pension, has been notified that the 11 per cent. is to be deducted on the original £800 and not only on the £500 he is receiving at the present time; and whether he can state why the reduction is made on the original amount and not on the reduced pension now being paid?
§ Mr. COOPERAs stated in Command Paper No. 3952, the deduction on the retired pay of officers from let October, 1931, will be 11 per cent. instead of the 8 per cent. formerly in force. I am aware that this deduction is calculated on the pension as originally assessed and not only on the uncommitted portion, but, in fairness to those officers who have not commuted any part of their retired pay, I regret that it is not possible to alter the established practice in the matter.