§ MR. NORMANI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state what has been the nature of the military operations conducted for some time past in the Hinterland of Aden; what force has been engaged; what is the total number of casualties; what civilian officers have been engaged; what is the total number of casualties; what civilian officers have been employed, and if there have been any casualties among them; whether these operations are regarded as being of peace or of war; and what is the difference of the pension or allowance made to the relatives of the killed under the two conditions.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe Joint Anglo-Turkish Commission, which has been engaged since March, 1902, in de-
§ information asked for, and such returns would cause a considerable demand on the owners. Indigo estates are not required to submit returns, as they are not under a special labour law. Mines and plantations in Native States are under no obligation to supply figures to the Indian Government. It may be said generally that mines in British India are required to make medical and hospital provision for the treatment of accidents, and that tea and coffee gardens to which the Madras or Assam Labour Law applies are required to maintain hospitals. There is no special requirement imposed on mines or plantations as regards schools, but ordinary schools exist in the districts, and can be attended by the children of miners and estate hands.
§ The Return referred to is as follows—British India and Native States (Coal Mines)—Address for Return, according to the following table, in connection with Coal and other Mines, and tea, indigo, and other plantations, each employing fifty labourers or more, in British India and Native States:—
§ marcating the frontier of the Aden Hinterland, has now practically completed its work in the field, the surveys having been carried to the sea. There have been no military operations, but the necessary escort has been provided. The force employed is about 2,000 men. It is now being withdrawn. The casualties hitherto reported to me show four British and twelve native soldiers killed, nineteen British and fifteen native soldiers died of disease, and about forty men wounded. Two civilian officers have been employed without casualty. No deaths having occurred among the officers employed, with the exception of a military officer who was murdered by a police sowar in our employ, the question of pension does not arise.