§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the age of each of the Indian troopships respectively; what is their present average rate of speed; how many have broken down during the present year; whether any determination has been arrived at as to replacing them by hired transports or otherwise; whether, in any case, the Admiralty will, in future, provide more adequate and suitable accommodation for the troops so 829 conveyed; and whether the War Office, or the Admiralty, or the India Office is the Department responsible for the number of troops at present carried in each troopship?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe age of each of the Indian troopships is 26 years and six months; the average speed 10.9 knots. Two—namely, the Crocodile and Malabar have had breakdowns during the present year. As I have already informed the House, the question of future arrangements for the transport of troops to India has been reported upon by an inter-Departmental Committee. That Report is now under the consideration of the Indian Government, and until their views are known, no statement can be made as to the accommodation to be provided hereafter. The number of troops carried is settled between the Military Authorities and the Admiralty on the basis of the available accommodation.