§ SIR ROPER LETHBRIDGE (Kensington, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India recognises the preferential claim of officers who have served a great number of years in the Indian Telegraph Department, and who have entered that Department in its lower grades, to the higher offices in the Department as they fall vacant?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST, Chatham)In making promotions in the Telegraph Service the Government of India have regard, first, to personal fitness, and, secondly, to length of service.
§ SIR ROPER LETHBRIDGEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India what is the total amount of the pensions now payable in England to members of the Indian Telegraph Department; and what would be the extra cost if those pensions were paid in sterling?
§ SIR J. GORSTThe amount is Rs. 89,758 11 annas. The extra cost of paying in sterling would be £2,804 19s. 4d., at the present official rate of exchange.