§ Sir H. COTTONTo ask the Secretary of State for India, whether he is aware that in answer to a question put on 13th March, 1906, by the hon. Member for North Camberwell the following figures were given by the Secretary of State for War of the total strength of the British forces serving in India in the years specified: January 1897, 76,995; January 1900, 66,581; January 1901, 63,623; January 1902, 63,958; January 1903, 75,740; October 1903, 76,380; October 1904, 76,938; October 1905, 78,061; and that the figures now given 647 for the same years are as follows: 1897–8, 76,376; 1900–1, 65,581; 1901–2, 62,999; 1902–3, 59,497; 1903–4, 74,709; 1904–5, 74,872; 1905–6, 77,268; and will he state the reason for these discrepancies.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The figures given by me on the 26th of March last were then stated to be for the 1st of April in each year. The reason of the discrepancy between those figures and those which the Secretary of State for War gave two years ago for January and October, is to be found in the fact that the numbers vary at different times of the year according to the relief movements of troops between India and this country.