MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, with regard to the regiments and detachments of the Indian Native Army now serving beyond the frontier and abroad on the continent of Africa, Mauritius, Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, Hong Kong, and with reference to the troops now ordered to China, it is intended to enlarge the regular Indian Military Establishment to the extent to which it has been reduced, by extra recruitments or by the formation of new regiments; if so, whether he will state the estimated cost of such additions to the Indian Army charges.
§ LORD G. HAMILTONThe question of enlarging establishments to replace Indian troops who may be employed as permanent colonial garrisons is under consideration, but no such intention exists with regard to the native troops temporarily employed out of India. Any extra expense entailed by the consequent additions will be borne by Imperial revenues.