§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether there are any statutes or regulations having the force of statutes which authorise the impressment of Her Majesty's subjects in British India for the commissariat service in connection with warlike operations on the frontier; if so, will he give the reference to these statutes or regulations; and was the recent impressment of 25,000 men in the Punjaub for the commissariat service made under the authority of any and, if so, which of these statutes or regulations?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThe right to impress for purpose of war throughout India is based upon immemorial usage and custom, and has been invariably resorted to in the Punjaub, as elsewhere, Whenever the circumstances seemed to require it. In certain parts of India the practice has had, in addition, the sanction of specific legislation, and for some time past a draft Bill dealing with impressment in the Punjaub has been under consideration in India, but, as I now learn, it has not yet become law. As to the number of men and animals impressed during the recent operations, I am expecting a Report from India, but I have reason to think that it has been much exaggerated.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLThen, do I understand there is no statute authorising this?