§ MR. R. W. HANBURY (Preston)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether, in view of the Second Reading of the Army Annual Bill having been put upon the paper for this day, he can state whether it is proposed in it to maintain the punishment of flogging in the case of Indian Native Troops, although it has been abolished in the case of all troops in the British Army, including the black troops of the West India Regiments; and, whether the intervention of the Secretary of State for India, as promised in Committee on this Bill last year, has led to any alteration of the law in that respect.
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GEORGE RUSSELL, North Beds)The Secretary of State for India has been, and is still, in communication with the Government of India on this subject; but no change can take place till a Bill has been passed through the Legislative Council of India.
§ MR. HANBURYasked, whether the hon. Gentleman was able to give the House any information as to the Government of India having arrived at any decision during the last year. The Secretary of State promised him, now a year ago, he would communicate with India.
MR. GEORGE RUSSELLsaid, he had answered the question in the terms put into his hands. Perhaps the hon. Member would put another question down.