§ SIR CARNE RASCH (Essex, Chelmsford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he would consider the propriety of allowing soldiers of six years service, who are willing to reengage, to have a free passage out and back on furlough home.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. JOHN ELLIS,) Nottinghamshire, RushcliffeA six months furlough with free passages both ways is granted to all non-commissioned officers who have completed six years service abroad and have re-engaged, so that the suggested concession may be said to be already in force for a portion of the men referred to. An offer of furlough with free passages after four years total service was recently made to men enlisted for three years who would extend to complete eight years. The Secretary of State for India has recently considered 1237 in consultation with the Army Council concessions of furlough, and is not prepared to go beyond the offers already made.