§ 30. Sir J. D. REESasked if the hon. Gentleman will state what precedent exists for making deduction from payments sanctioned by the Indian Government under an Act of the Home Government; whether India is a financially independent unit; and whether the records of the India Office supply proof of the unwisdom of making forcible deductions from the pay of British soldiers serving in India?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIn his search for precedents the hon. Member has apparently overlooked the existence of the Army Act, which is an Act of the Imperial Parliament, which applies to the British soldier in India as elsewhere, and which is the authority for many deductions from his pay. Broadly speaking, India is for most purposes a financially independent unit, but her independence in this respect is subject always to the control of the Imperial Parliament. I am not aware that deductions made from the pay of British soldiers serving in India have a different effect from similar deductions made on similar authority from British soldiers serving elsewhere.
§ Sir J. D. REESIs it not a fact that in one case the money is provided by a financially independent unit, and, therefore, any deductions made from pay are open to the greater objection?