§ SIR SEYMOUR KING () Hull, CentraTo ask the Secretary of State for India if he will say why Batta was refused to the officers of the Indian contingent which took part in the Jubaland expedition of 1901; and whether, seeing that batta is always allowed to Indian troops when in the field in addition to their pay, the Indian Government, in furnishing contingents to the Foreign Office for employment out of India, will take measures to secure that the troops and officers shall have all the privileges to which they would be entitled when employed in the Indian service.
(Answered by Secretary Lord George Hamilton.) "Batta," or field allowance, is not claimable by the European officers of Indian regiments when on field service, although on special occasions the Government of India may authorise a gratuity, or "donation batta," after a campaign. The batta admissible to the 839 Native officers, non-commissioned officers, and men under Indian Rules was drawn by those who took part in the Jubaland Expedition of 1901. In all the expeditions in British East Africa in which Indian troops have been employed the Foreign Office has granted the same rates of pay and allowance as would have been drawn had the troops been employed under Indian conditions, and I have no doubt the same course will be followed on this occasion.