§ SIR SEYMOUR KING (Hull, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has recently received a despatch from the Government of India having reference to the complaints of the Indian Staff Corps officers in respect of their supersession by officers of the British Service; whether the Government of India are aware of the urgency of the grievance, and have made recommendations for remedying it; and whether any decision has yet been arrived at; and if not, can he state when he will be in a position to make a definite announcement on the subject.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G.) HAMILTON, Middlesex, EalingThis matter has been for some time under consideration, but within the last few days, on the recommendation of the Government of India, I have sanctioned a reduction of the periods qualifying for promotion to the ranks of captain and major in the Indian Staff Corps from eleven to nine years and from twenty to eighteen years respectively.