§ GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOURasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, To state the arrangements for paying the troops from India, as respects the coins and rate of conversion used for the issue of those coins in lieu of the rupee coin; and, whether the same rate of conversion is in force for officers as for soldiers; and, if not, what rates are used for those two grades, and on what ground a distinction is made between the soldier and his officer?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER,in reply, said, the Question was one which would, have been more properly addressed to his right hon. and gallant Friend the Secretary of State for War, who did not happen to be present. The position he believed to be this — the troops sent from India to Malta received an advance of pay in rupees in India; but from the date of the expiration of that advance the payments at Malta were made in sterling, and it had been decided to pay the troops at the rate of 2s. for each rupee, which was in excess of its value, and to treat the excess as an extra allowance. As far as the officers were concerned, it was, as he understood, decided to pay them at the current rate of exchange, which was about 1s. 9d. for each rupee.
§ GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOURgave Notice that, on an early day, he should call attention to the question.