§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether it is intended to make any revision of the scale of allowances hitherto made to officers of the Army for passage money to England on public duty, in consequence of the continued depreciation of silver; whether the allowance is now 100 rupees below the lowest sum for which the journey can he made by steamship; and whether meanwhile officers travelling on public business are out of pocket to this amount?
MR. G. RUSSELLAn officer proceeding to England on duty is entitled to a free contract passage, and if he draws the passage allowance instead he does so of his own free will. The Secretary of State will consult the Government of India as to the financial results of the present rates; but be cannot undertake to make any revision which will increase the annual charge for the conveyance of these officers.