§ MR. GULLAND (Dumfries Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is prepared to alter the regulations of the Ecclesiastical Establishment in India so that he may consider nominations for the present and future vacancies as Presbyterian chaplains from ministers and licentiates of Presbyterian churches other than the Established Church of Scotland.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Hobhouse,) Bristol, E.The establishment of Chaplains in India, which is regulated by 3 and 4 Will. IV., ch. 85, sec. 102, has always consisted of Chaplains of the Church of England and of the Church of Scotland, and the statute specifies the qualifications to be possessed by the latter, and the manner in which they shall be appointed. In these circumstances the Secretary of State is advised that it is doubtful whether the regulations can legally be altered so as to provide for the nomination of ministers not belonging to the Church of Scotland, and he is not prepared to take any action of the nature suggested.