§ MR. GIBSONasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether, since the date of his last reply, any step has been taken by the Government of India to remove the grievances of the Madras Civil Servants, except to inquire how far the contemplated introduction of certain 461 minor administrative changes will afford any relief; whether he is aware that the proposed changes will not have the effect of remedying to any appreciable extent the block in promotion; and, whether he will now urge the Government of India to withhold no longer from the Madras Civil Service all the concessions which have been granted to the Civil Service in other provinces under similar conditions, and the grant of which has been already delayed for nearly two years since the first representations of the Government of Madras in the matter?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, it has been decided by the Secretary of State in Council, on the recommendation of the Government of India, that the concessions which were granted to the Civil Service in Bengal and Bombay should be granted to the Madras Civil Service; and orders have been given to the Government of India, by telegraph, to offer proportionate pensions to all Madras civilians who have completed 20 years' service, or who will do so during the present calendar year.