HC Deb 14 May 1896 vol 40 cc1338-9
MR. C. E. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, whether native East Indian soldiers are informed on their enlistment that they are liable to be sent out of India for service abroad; and, will he state briefly the clauses in the East Indian Enlistment Act which deal with the territory or territories in which Indian recruits may be called upon to serve; and, if not, will he cause a copy of the East Indian Enlistment Act to be placed in the Library, within reach of Members; and, should there be no special East Indian Enlistment Act, then a copy of the old East India Company's Regulations on this subject?

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON

Under Article 1 of the Indian Articles of War a native soldier is enlisted to go "wherever he is ordered by land or sea." The liability to be sent on foreign service is carefully explained to all recruits.

MR. T. R. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, whether the Government of India has given its consent to the revenues of India being charged with the expenses, either ordinary or extraordinary, of the troops to be sent to Suakim; and whether he will lay upon the Table, as was done in a similar case in 1882–3, the telegrams and correspondence with the Government of India on the subject; also whether, in view of his statement of March 2nd, he could now tell the House; whether India was to bear any part of the charge for the expenses of the Indian force recently sent to Mombasa?

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON

I am in correspondence with the Government of India, and I will follow the precedent of 1882–3 in laying the correspondence and telegrams on the Table of the House. As regards the second Question, it would be convenient if the hon. Gentleman will allow me to defer this Question till to-morrow, when I hope to make a statement both with regard to Suakim and Mombasa.

MR. LABOUCHERE

Who is actually paying for the ships which are chartered for the removal of the troops from Bombay?

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON

There is an account periodically adjusted between the Indian and Imperial Government, by which advances are made for convenience, and it is the practice to advance sums from the Indian Treasury in connection with the transport of troops from India. These advances are not held to be charges.

MR. JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)

I beg to ask what is the estimated cost per month for ordinary expenses of the Indian military force that is being dispatched to Suakim?

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON

The approximate monthly cost in India of the native troops under orders for Suakim is Rx.9.000, or £5,000.

MR. MORLEY

Does this include superannuation charges?

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON

No; I think not. It is their ordinary pay and allowances.

MR. J. MORLEY

I assume, after what fell from the noble Lord just now, that to-morrow is the day to be devoted to the discussion of this subject?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

All that my noble Friend said was that to-morrow he would make a statement, both with regard to the Indian troops to be sent to Suakim and those sent to Mombasa. I propose to give the first Parliamentary day after the conclusion of the Committee stage of the Bill now under discussion to Debate of the Question. [Opposition cries of "Oh, oh!" and Ministerial cheers.]