§ MR. R. PIERPOINT (Warrington)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether officers of a regiment serving in India who are at home on leave, in case the regiment is detailed for service in the field, though expected to rejoin without delay, have besides sacrificing their leave to pay their own passages out unless they are recalled by an order of the Adjutant General in India?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe facts are as stated in the question; but even if recalled by the authorities in India it would be a question for the India Office whether the circumstances would justify an officer's passage being granted at the expense of the Indian Government. It is a well-understood rule that if an officer, whose regiment is abroad, comes home for his own convenience he must rejoin his regiment at his own expense whenever required to do so.
§ MR. PIERPOINTasked whether the Indian Government ever had, in the circumstances stated by the right hon. Gentleman, allowed the expenses of an officer's passage out to India?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am not aware they have got the power to do it.