§ MR. CARBUTTasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Under what circumstances Major F. Firebrace, R.E. the Under Secretary of the Railway branch of the Indian Public Works Department, who is at present in England on leave of absence, is employed as Secretary to the Bengal and North Western Railway Company (Limited), as appears from an advertisement in "Engineering" of 16th March 1883; if Major Firebrace has not left Her Majesty's Service, whether he could state how he is remunerated, and what is the amount of his military pay as an officer of the Army, his civil pay as an officer of the Indian Public Works Department, and if he is aware what may be his pay as Secretary of the Company; and, if Her Majesty's Government approve of the employment of officers in the Indian Service by private Companies in India, whose interests may not always be coincident with those of Government?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSMajor Firebrace, being on furlough, is acting as Secretary to the Company mentioned by my lion. Friend, with the concurrence of the Government of India. He is in receipt of the furlough pay to which he is entitled under regulation—namely, 828 rupees a month, which is treated as a Civil charge. I have no knowledge of the salary allowed him by the Company. Under ordinary circumstances, the Government of India do not object to civil or military officers, while on furlough, taking employment under Companies engaged in carrying out railways in India.