§ MR. RUNCIMAN (Dewsbury)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India how many men have been sent to India since 1902 who were enlisted for a period of three years only; how many of these men have extended their services; what has been the cost of returning those men who declined to extend their services; and whether the whole of this cost falls upon the Indian revenues.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERPerhaps I may be allowed to answer this. The numbers of men sent to India sent 1902 who were enlisted for three years only cannot be obtained without reference to each unit. There were, however, on the 1st June 5,799 men (rank and file) in India whose original engagement was for three years, and of this number 2,325 men extended their service. It is not possible to calculate the extra cost involved by the return of those declining to extend, which will fall on British revenues.