§ COLONEL HUGHES-HALLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether, as the contract rates of pay for the Civil and Military Servants of the Crown in India were originally fixed at a time when the rupee was worth two shillings, whereas now its exchangeable value has fallen to one shilling and sixpence, a depreciation of twenty-five per cent., and may possibly fall still lower, the Government will take into consideration the justice and necessity of affording compensation in some way to Civil and Military officers in India for the very heavy losses incurred by them in all their remittances to this Country?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir UGHTRED KAY-SHUTTLE-WORTH)It is only natural to feel sympathy with Civil and Military officers in 1384 India who have to send private remittances home, and who lose by the fall in the relative value of the rupee. But any change could only be made at the expense of the Indian taxpayer, who already has to contribute towards the additional charge of £3,000,000 sterling falling annually on the Indian Exchequer in consequence of this altered value of silver. Her Majesty's Government can hold out no hope that salaries will be increased for such reasons as the hon. and gallant Member puts forward.