§ MR. CAINE (Barrow)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, if his attention has been called to an article in the Nonconformist of 13th June, stating,
there are many British soldiers stationed at Colombo, and the Government pay the chaplain so much per head if they be Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, or Churchmen; but there are many who attend the Baptists, and the Government refuse to pay for them";is there any truth in this statement; is it the case that in India the capitation grant is paid to Baptist, Wesleyan, and other Nonconformist ministers whose places of worship are used by soldiers; and, will he give instructions that all religious denominations in Ceylon shall be placed on an equal footing?
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE) Lincolnshire, HorncastleAccording to both the 530 British and Indian regulations payments are made to Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and Wesleyan Clergymen. The numbers of troops of other denominations are not considered sufficient to justify payment, as taken together they only amount to six per 1,000.