§ SIR SEYMOUR KINGI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is yet in a position to announce the decision of the Government of India in regard to the various questions still pending in respect of exchange compensation?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingExchange compensation is authorised for Europeans appointed in England, and for officers appointed as Europeans in India to offices in which European qualifications are held to be indispensable, or to services and departments in which a proportion of Europeans is held by the Government of India to be indispensable. The Government of India are now considering the rules which must be issued in order to carry into effect this decision of the Secretary of State in Council.
§ SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN (Banffshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Viceroy of India, the Governors and Lieutenant Governors of Presidencies and Provinces and members of the different Councils draw Exchange compensation allowance in addition to their salaries; whether the salaries of some of them are not fixed in rupees lay statute; and whether the grant of the allowance taken without statutory amendment is legal; and whether it is a fact that the allowance is granted to such European officers as make no remittances to England; and, if so, on what grounds?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONExchange compensation has hitherto been drawn by all the European officers in India who are entitled to it under the regulations. Among these are about 40 officers whose salaries are fixed in rupees under Statute; and doubts have been raised whether, in their case, the compensation, though obviously equitable, may not be technically illegal. Opinions on that point differ, and the matter is now under my consideration with a view of obtaining further advice. The compensation allowance is intended to protect European officers in India against an excessive depreciation of their emoluments by the fall in exchange, and is confined by the regulations to those classes which as a rule are seriously affected by it; but it is not thought necessary or advisable to make any special inquiry into the private circumstances of individual officers.