§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, in arranging for the dispatch of the reliefs to the British forces serving in India during the present season the Government had regard to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Section XVII. of the Queen's Regulations for the British Army, and especially to that part of it which provides that arrangements will be made to embark corps and detachments so that they may arrive at their destinations in accordance with the table specified in that paragraph; whether the dates fixed by that table were determined in the interest of the health of the men, and in accordance with climatic considerations; whether the departure of the troopships to India during the present season was regulated with a view to conform to the Queen's Regulations, and whether those sent to Bombay arrived there wholly within the limits of time allowed by those Regulations; whether the reliefs, or any of them, in fact, arrived after the cold weather was over, and whether in consequence they had to be sent up the country during the hot season, thereby increasing greatly the incidental discomforts of the journey; and what steps the Government, in fact, took consequential upon the break-down of the troopships to enable them to act up to the Queen's Regulations, and ensure the arrival of the reliefs before the cool season was over?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERAs far as may be practicable, arrangements are made for the reliefs for India to arrive within the periods specified in the Queen's Regulations, and any variation from those periods is settled in communication with the Horse Guards, War Office, and Admiralty. I have no reason to believe that the health of the troops has been injuriously affected in consequence. As I explained, in my reply to the hon. Member on the 31st May, the dates of arrival last season were exceptionally late, owing to the break-down of the troopships. All possible measures were taken to accelerate the service, with the result stated in that reply.
§ *MR. TOMLINSONThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the second part of my question.
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERYes, I think I did when I said that the dates were fixed in communication with the Horse Guards, War Office, and Admiralty. Generally, every endeavour is made to promote the health of the men, and we have no information that their health suffered in this case.
§ *MR. TOMLINSONIs it not a fact that the result this year is to make later the time for sending reliefs up country, thereby materially increasing the inconvenience to the men?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERYes, a delay took place owing to the break-down of the troopships, which have now been withdrawn from the service.
§ *MR. TOMLINSONWill precautions be taken to prevent this breach of the Queen's Regulations in future years?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERThe future arrangements are a matter of correspondence now going on between the India Office and the Home Authorities.