§ DR. SHIPMAN (Northampton)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will state how many new Indian Government appointments of Rs. 5,000 per annum and upwards have been created since 1892; and how many of these appointments are now held by Europeans and how many by Indians.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) I observe that the same information was asked for by the hon. Mr. Gokhale at a meeting of the Council of the Governor-General of India on the 10th March, and that the Financial Member of the Council 1393 replied as follows:—"The preparation of the Return asked for by the hon. Member would require a reference to Account Offices, Civil, Public Works, and Military, all over India. It would involve a very large amount of labour, and occupy several months of time. In these circumstances the Governor-General in Council does not feel justified in ordering the Return to be prepared." I therefore hesitate to make so considerable a call on the Government of India.