§ MR. SERJEANT SIMONasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that the officers and troops sent from India to serve in Perak during the outbreak there are not to receive any extra pay or allowances, and that the officers and troops already stationed there at the time of the outbreak are to receive only such additional allowance as will bring their pay up to the ordinary Indian rate; if he would explain what is the reason for this apparent departure from the promise of the late Secretary for War, who on the 9th April 1877, in this House, said—
It has been arranged that they" (the officers and troops serving in Perak) "shall have the same advantages as were enjoyed by the European troops sent to Abyssinia;1527 and, whether those European troops did not receive the "donation batta" in addition to the usual Indian pay?
COLONEL LOYD LINDSAYSir, practically, the same advantages were granted to the troops serving in Perak as were granted during the Abyssinian Expedition, except as regards "donation batta." Working pay was granted to the non-commissioned officers and men of the British troops, while serving in the field in Perak. Extraordinary field allowances for six months has been granted to the officers, which, together with the Straits "consolidated Colonial allowance" for four months, and the ordinary regimental pay, amount to about the same as India pay and command pay. The "donation batta" was given to the troops in Abyssinia after, and in consequence of, the victory at Magdala, being a "grant determined after a campaign, and on the special circumstances of the campaign." It being thus special to the victory at Magdala, it was not contemplated by the late Secretary of State for War in his reply on the 9th of April, 1877.