§ MR. ARTHUR LEE (Hampshire, Fareham)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the issue of field batta to the Native troops employed in the recent Waziri blockade has been withheld, although the other field concessions have boon granted; and whether, in view of the nature of the operations, and the numerous casualties sustained, he will consider the advisability of issuing batta to the troops employed on the same scale as for other frontier operations.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingUnder regulation, field batta is not given unless the service has been distinctly declared by the Government of India to be field service for this purpose. As far as I know, this has not been done, and I am not disposed to interfere with the discretion of the Government of India in the matter.