§ LORD JEFFREYSasked Her Majesty's Government with reference to the replies given on February 25: (a) whether Reserve officers who were called up for further service in war time, and who received increases to their retired pay in respect of such additional service, were included amongst those stated by the Minister to have had the 1935 "cut" or part of that "cut" restored to them; whether such "called-up" service is not extra to the service on which the amount of their retired pay was in the first place calculated, and ought not therefore to be counted in reckoning increases in the original rates of that retired pay; (b) whether Indian Army pensions were not reduced at the same time as similar British Service pensions in 1935, and whether any restoration given to British Service pensioners ought not in fairness to be made to Indian Army pensioners as well; (c) what is the total number of those officers who have not had any part of the 1935 cuts restored to them.
§ THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (EARL ALEXANDER OF TUNIS)The answers are as follows:
- (a) Officers whose retired pay was reassessed in respect of re-employed service during the 1939–45 war are, as stated in the answer given on February 25, included in the numbers who have received increases over the 1935 rates of retired pay. An increased award in respect of such extra service was, however, additional to any pensions increase for which the officer was eligible, and the total increase
1137 received was not therefore necessarily attributable only to his extra service. Her Majesty's Government therefore take the view that it is legitimate, in arriving at the number of officers still in receipt of 1935 rates, to disregard all those whose retired pay has been adjusted since their retirement. - (b) The pensions of retired officers of the former Indian Armed Forces were subject to the same cost of living variations as the corresponding British Service awards and the rates were similarly stabilised in 1935. Those officers have been treated in all respects
1138 as if they were eligible for, and they have received, pensions increase under the schemes of 1944, 1947 and 1952. Her Majesty's Government take the view that this parity of treatment with British Service officers should continue in future. - (c) The total number of officers whose retired pay is in issue at the 1935 rates is 400 (359 British Service, 41 Indian Service).
House adjourned at twenty-six minutes past seven o'clock.