§ SIR H. COTTON (Nottingham, E.)To ask the Secretary of State for India what was the effective strength in number of the British and Native Army in India, including officers, during the following years: 1856–7, 1862–3, 1867–8, 1870–1, 1878–9, 1883–4, 1886–7, 1897–8, 1900–1, 1901–2, 1902–3, 1903–4, 1904–5, 1905–6, 1906–7, and 1907–8.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) For the first eight years referred to, the only figures available are those of the 1549 established strength of the Army in India. They are as follows—
| British. | Native. | |
| 1856 | 45,104 | 235,221 |
| 1857 | 45,522 | 232,224 |
| 1862 | 78,174 | 125,913 |
| 1863 | 76,085 | 121,775 |
| 1867 | 65,467 | 117,681 |
| 1868 | 61,897 | 119,169 |
| 1870 | 56,954 | 128,600 |
| 1871 | 58,368 | 127,520 |
| 1878–9 | 64,726 | 124,871 |
| 1883–4 | 63,065 | 126,019 |
| 1886–7 | 73,582 | 134,492 |
| 1897–8 | 76,376 | 143,190 |
§ These figures do not include the Hyderabad contingent (about 8,600 men). It is believed that for each of these years the actual strength was approximately equal to the established strength. In 1st April in each of the following years the actual strength was as follows—
| British. | Native. | |
| 1900–1 | 63,581 | 149,358 |
| 1901–2 | 62,999 | 134,491 |
| 1902–3 | 59,497 | 143,617 |
| 1903–4 | 74,709 | 147,876 |
| 1904–5 | 74,872 | 147,916 |
| 1905–6 | 77,268 | 149,505 |
| 1906–7 | 75,814 | 151,725 |
| 1907–8 | 76,019 | 152,411 |
§ These figures include the Hyderabad contingent up to the time of its abolition (about 1902–3), and since that date the units which have taken its place. The actual strength for the earlier of these years was considerably less than the established strength owing to the absence of troops in South Africa, China, and Somaliland.