§ *SIR J. DICKSON-POYNDER (Wiltshire, Chippenham)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a portion of the drafts now being sent to India include men who have less than one year to serve; if so, what is the number of such men already sent and to be sent; and whether he will grant a Return stating the number of such men, the amount of time they will spend in India, and the cost of their transport out and home.
§ MR. BROMLEY-DAVENPORTNo drafts are now being sent to India. Orders were issued that no men were to be embarked with less than one year's unexpired service, but, owing to the accident which delayed the "Assaye," when she left port the second time she had on board twenty-two men whose unexpired service was less than one year. No extra cost was entailed owing to the embarkation of these men. The average cost of a soldier's voyage to India is from £7 to £8.