§ SIR SEYMOUR KING (Hull, Central)I beg to ask the Under Secretary for India whether the Indian Government and the Secretary of State have considered the case of civil and military servants of the Crown in India who have suffered by the diminution in the value of the rupee; whether the official rate of exchange for the years 1893–4 between England and India has yet been fixed, and what it is; and whether the Secretary of State intends to make any compensation by fixing a special rate for family remittances and absentee allowances, or in any other way, to the European civil and military servants of the Indian Government for the loss of 40 per cent, of their salaries, owing to the fall in the exchange?
*MR. G. RUSSELLThe Indian Government and the Secretary of State are considering the ease of the officers referred to. The official rate of exchange has been fixed at ls. 2¾d., but it is possible that this may be recalculated. The whole question as to the effect on salaries of the fall in the gold value of the rupee has been brought by the Government of India before the Secretary of State in Council, and is now under his consideration.