§ 19. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, on the 5th July, 1913, the Government of India informed the Bombay Presidency Trades Association that the question of attachment of officers' pay, which is now engaging the attention of the Secretary of State, was then under consideration; will he say why there has been so much delay in dealing with it; has it, as a matter of fact, been referred to General Nicholson's Committee; and is it possible to indicate a date when a decision may be expected?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSThe letter referred to has not been received by the Secretary of State. The delay in arriving at a decision is chiefly due to the necessity for taking the opinions of local Governments and of the principal military authorities. The matter was not referred to Field-Marshal Lord Nicholson's Committee. It is not possible to state when a decision will be reached, more especially as any change that may be contemplated would involve legislation.