§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the annual expenditure in the Indian Army Services, which averages from 15 to 17 crores of rupees in the 10 years preceding the last Afghan War, has been increased in the last 10 years to an average of 20 crores of rupees a year; whether this increase is irrespective of, and additional to, the grant of five crores of rupees for special defence works; whether the Government of India had also spent, up to 31st March, 1891, a capital sum of more than 12 crores of rupees on Military State Railways, the working of which caused a loss to the State of 53 lakhs annually; and whether, having regard to the present financial difficulties in India, the Government propose to make any, and what, reductions in the military expenditure before imposing fresh taxation upon the people?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOB INDIA (Mr. G. RUSSELL, North Beds.)The average annual military expenditure of the last 10 years exceeds that of the 10 years preceding the Afghan War by Rx.2,439,000. But, owing to the fall in exchange, the total annual charge has increased by a further sum of Rx. 1,693,000. This is in addition to the charge for special defence works, and to that for strategic railways. The charge for these railways amounted in 1890–91 to 5¼ lakhs for loss on working, and 48 lakhs for interest on capital. The question whether any reduction of military expenditure can be effected will not fail to receive attention.