H.-CIVIL NON-EFFECTIVE PAYMENTS. Gratuities and other non-recurrent charges.

Additional Allowances and Gratuities to Established Officers.-Gratuities are payable under the Superannuation Acts of 1859, 1909 and 1914, (a) to pensionable civilians retired for age, ill-health, or abolition or reorganiza tion of office before completing ten years' service, who are, therefore, ineligible for pensions, or (b) to the legal representatives of pensionable civilians who die while serving, after at least five years' pensionable service. Additional allowances are payable to Established Civil Servants (male) under the Superannuation Acts of 1909 and 1914, in addition to pension or gratuity under those Acts.

Compassionate Gratuities.-Gratuities are payable under the Superannuation Act of 1887 to non-pensionable civilians whose services are dispensed with on the ground of age, infirmity, or abolition or reorganization of office, and under the Superannuation Act of 1914 to the dependants of such employees who die while serving. Certain minimum periods of service (varying with the circumstances of termination) are required to qualify for an award.

Reduced provision is required for additional allowances and gratuities payable under the Superannuation Act of 1909, as fewer retirements are expected.

J.-INJURY GRANTS.

Payments are made (a) under the Workmen's Compensation Acts, and Government scheme framed thereunder, to civilians (or their dependants) coming within the scope of those Acts;

(b) under a Treasury Warrant, framed under the Superannuation Act 1887, to civilians injured on duty (or to their dependants if death results from the injury) the conditions of whose service exclude them from the scope of the Workmen's Compensation Acts;

(c) under Treasury Warrant of 17 January 1919, to civilians injured during flights in aircraft being flown for experimental or testing purposes.

The decrease is due to an anticipated reduction in the number of lump sum settlements under the Workmen's Compensation Acts.

G.-CIVIL

VOTE 11.-NON-EFFECTIVE SERVICES-continued.

RECURRENT CHARGES-continued.

Brought forward

2. Commutation of Allowances

Annuity to be paid over for 10 years to
the Commissioners for the reduction
of the National Debt for repayment
of the sums advanced by them in the
year ended 31 December 1923

Gratuities in cases of death, under
Section 2 of the Superannuation Act,
1909 (9 Edw. 7 c. 10)

2. Compassionate Gratuities :

Gratuities to unestablished officers,
&c., under Section 4 of the Super-
annuation Act, 1887 (50 & 51
Vict. c. 67)

Gratuities to dependants of un-
established officers, &c., under Sect. 4
of the Superannuation Act of 1887
(50 & 51 Vict. c. 67) as amended by
Sect. 3 of the Superannuation Act,
1914 (4 & 5 George 5, c. 86) ..

3. Gratuities to established female officers
under Treasury minute of 21 November
1895

J.-INJURY GRANTS:

1. Payments under the Workmen's Compen-
sation Acts, 1925 and 1926, and scheme
framed thereunder (15 & 16 Geo. 5, c. 84)
2. Payments under the Injury Warrants
framed under Sect. 1 of the Super-
annuation Act, 1887 (50 & 51 Vict.
c. 67)
3. Payments in respect of British and Native
civilians killed or injured in the execu-
tion of their duty while serving abroad

VOTE 11.-NON-EFFECTIVE SERVICES-continued.

K.-COMMUTATION OF RETIRED PAY, WOUNDS PENSIONS, ETC.

Provision is made in this subhead for the repayment to the National Debt Commissioners of sums advanced by them for the commutation of officers' retired pay and permanent wounds pensions under the Pensions Commutation Acts, 1871 and 1882.

The sums so advanced in each year are repaid to the Commissioners, with interest, by means of an annuity which commences in the following year and runs for 10 years.

The annuities at present payable are as shown in the Estimate on page 117. Provision is also made for the commutation of the pensions of airmen. The lump sums expended for this purpose are charged direct to this subhead. The commutation by officers of their retired pay and wounds pensions is restricted by rules relating to their age and fitness for further service, the proportion of the total retired pay which may be commuted and the amount which must be left uncommuted (King's Regulations, paragraph 3459).

Airmen pensioners if not over 80 years of age, are allowed to commute a portion of their pensions, provided it is shown that it is to their distinct and permanent advantage to do so. The pensioner must be in a good state of health and his pension must not be reduced by commutation below a fixed amount-Sergeant Majors, 1st Class, 3s. a day, others, 2s. a day (King's Regulations, paragraphs 3585 and 3628).

L.-RELIEF FUND.

Provision is made under this subhead for assisting dependants of deceased officers not eligible for a pension or allowance.

M.-COMPASSIONATE GRANTS.

This subhead provides for small compassionate grants in exceptional circumstances to::

(a) Civilian employees of the Air Ministry who are discharged in circumstances rendering them ineligible for awards under the Superannuation Acts, or

(b) The dependants of employees who die in the service before completing the service necessary to qualify their dependants for awards under the Superannuation Acts.

N.-APPROPRIATIONS IN AID.

When an officer or airman is lent to a dominion, colonial or foreign government the borrowing government pays, in respect of the period of the loan, an annual contribution towards the prospective retired pay or pension of the person lent. Sums so received are included under Item 1 of this subhead.

Receipts from the Indian Government.-The Indian Government pays a contribution towards the non-effective charges for personnel who have served on the Indian establishment. The method of fixing the contribution is not yet determined and the receipts for which the Estimate provides are provisional only.