§ MR. GIBSONasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the Secretary of State for India has yet reconsidered the grievances of the Madras Civil Service, and the working of the concessions made by him last year, in order partially to relieve the block of promotion in the service; and, whether there has been any recent communication with the Simla Government on the subject; and, if so, with what result?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSSir, no communication has yet been' received from the Government of India upon the subject of the representations made to them by the Government of Madras some time ago, to the effect that the extent to which the offer of proportionate expenses had been accepted during the past year did not offer the relief which was expected to result from it. A difference 280 of opinion having arisen between the Governments of Madras and Bombay as to the date from which the payment of the special or minimum allowances to certain members of the Madras Civil Service was sanctioned, the matter was referred to the Secretary of State, who has approved the Orders issued by the Government of India, which ruled that, as is usual in such cases, these allowances should take effect from the date of the receipt in India of the despatch of the Secretary of State sanctioning the scheme.
§ MR. GIBSONasked whether the Secretary of State had given his decision in favour of the Civil Service?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSsaid, that no communication on the subject had been received from India, and therefore the Secretary of State could not consider it.
§ MR. GIBSONWill he ask for it now?
§ [No answer was given.]