§ SIR J. FERGUSSON (Manchester, N.E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India, on the grounds of economy and efficiency, have urged the expediency of continuing to convey the troops to and from India in troopships either belonging to the Royal Navy or to the Indian Marine; whether Her Majesty's Government have objected to troopships of the Indian Marine conveying the troops; whether transports have been hired when Indian Marino troopships were available; and whether such proceedings have thrown additional cost upon the Indian Revenues?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. GEORGE RUSSELL,) North Beds.The Government of India, in 1892, recommended the course indicated in the right hon. Baronet's question. Since then proposals, which it is hoped may meet their views, have been made and referred to them; but, as I stated on Tuesday, no decision has yet been arrived at. No transports have been hired when Indian troopships were available, nor has any additional cost been thrown upon Indian Revenues by such proceedings.
*MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Is it not a fact that the cost of conveying troops by private transport is nearly half as much again as by public troopships?
§ MR. GEORGE RUSSELLI am sorry to trouble my hon. Friend, but I must ask for notice of that question.