HC Deb 06 May 1895 vol 33 cc521-2
SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN (Banffshire)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India what is the established strength of the British Army in India; by what statute or ordinance is it regulated; why was there excess over established strength of the British Army in India in the financial year 1891–5; and, whether such excess is legal?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. HENKY FOWLER,) Wolverhampton

The established strength of the British Army in India is 73,168 officers and men. It is not regulated by any statute or ordinance. There was a slight excess during part of the year l894–5 owing to the drafts sent out to meet the loss by death, invaliding and other causes, between the end of one trooping season and the beginning of the next. The excess is legal.

SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, under what statute is the application of the revenues of India to the maintenance of a British Army in India provided for; whether there is any pro-vision for spending the revenues of India upon any excess over the established strength of the British Army; and whether the application of Rx. 35,000 to meet, this excess, as shown in paragraph 27 of the Financial Statement of the Government of India for 1895–6, is legal?

MR. HENRY FOWLER

The application of the revenues of India to the maintenance of a British Army in India is not governed by statute other than the general statutory provision which places the expenditure of Indian revenues for Indian purposes under the control of the Secretary of State for India in Council. The payment of the charge for the slight excess over the established strength of the Army during a part of 1894–5 was quite legal.

SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN

I beg to ask the Secretary of Stale for India whether the red line shown on the sketch map of the north-west frontier of the Punjab, at page 91of Part IV. of the Statement of the Progress and Condition of India for the year 1859–60, represents the north-west frontier of British India from the Lehree Boundary Pillar on the south to Hazara and the Koonhar River on the north in 1860?

MR. HENRY FOWLER

I have on doubt that the sketch map of 1860 to which the hon. Member refers was drawn with due care at that date, and upon the information then available; but I am not in a position to answer for its correctness.