§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S. E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, taking into consideration the fact that the increase in the number of British soldiers invalided home from India for venereal disease was 20 per cent. over the preceding year in 1895, 60 per cent. in 1896, and 199 per cent. in 1897 over the figure for 1894, he would at once increase the stringency of the regulations now in force?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAI must refer my honourable and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to his Question on this subject on March 9 If the improvement which, as I then said, has begun to show itself in the admission rate for these diseases is continuous, as I trust it may be, a reduction in the number of invalidings may be expected to follow, though necessarily somewhat later. Until the present regulations have had a fair trial I do not propose to take any further action.