MR. J. HERBERT ROBERTSI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the punitive police force which was imposed upon the city of Poona after the murders of Mr. Rand and Lieutenant Ayerst has yet been removed; if not, can he state how long it will be continued there; whether he 394 can state what has been the approximate cost of the force to the city of Poona per month; and if it is the intention of the Government of India to relieve that municipality of the whole or any part of the cost?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThe punitive police force was imposed upon the city of Poona for a period of two years, from June, 1897, and the approximate cost, the whole of which was intended to be borne by the municipality of Poona, is about Rs. 9,600 a month. I have up to the present received no information which leads me to suppose that any change is contemplated.