§ * MR. REESI beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State will inquire into the accommodation available in Calcutta for officers whose duty requires them to provide themselves with such accommodation during the period which 1252 the Government of India spends at that city; and, if accommodation is not available at prices such as officers can afford to pay, whether he will take any, and, if so, what, steps to provide such accommodation.
§ MR. BUCHANANAn inquiry was recently instituted by the Government of India into the question of house accommodation for Government officers stationed at Calcutta. As a result of that inquiry, the Government of India recommended, and the Secretary of State sanctioned, two years ago, a scheme for building quarters and for extending the grants made of house-rent allowances. He has received no information from the Government of India leading him to suppose that any further inquiry is necessary at present.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIECan the hon. Gentleman say for what period of the year is the Government of India stationed at Calcutta?
§ MR. BUCHANANFrom the middle of the autumn to the beginning of the following year.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEFour months.
§ * MR. REESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that during those four months the expense of living at Calcutta is so-great that officers otherwise desirable are sometimes unable to accept appointments of this character?
§ MR. BUCHANANNo doubt the expense of living at Calcutta is very heavy.