asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, in the event of Purchase in the Army being abolished, the widow, children, or next of kin of an officer, who is either dangerously ill or who has died before he has been repaid the customary price of his commission, will receive the money from the State to which that officer would have been entitled if he had lived; and, whether, in the case of an officer being killed in action or on duty, or dying of his wounds, before he has been repaid the customary price of his commission, his widow or children, or next of kin, as the case may be, will receive the money to which he would have been entitled had he lived?
Sir, the widow, children, or next of kin referred to in the first part of the Question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman do not receive the purchase money, according to the purchase system, and, therefore, will not be entitled to compensation on the abolition of the system. As regards officers killed in action, the rule expressed in the Warrant G 1,069 will be strictly followed.