51. Captain FABERasked the Secretary for War whether the Indian Government is now compelled to pay bounties to time-expired men to prolong their service in India on account of the shortage of recruits; how much money that has amounted to during this year from 1st January; and what steps he proposes to take to cure this evil?
§ 53. Mr. DOUGLAS HALLalso asked whether, owing to the lack of drafts from Home, the Indian Government is offering bounties to British soldiers to extend their service in India; the extent of these bounties and how far the response to the offer has succeeded in making up the deficiency; and what steps the Government intend to take to deal with the falling off in the number of recruits joining the Army?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Tennant)The object of giving the bounty and its amount have already been clearly stated in replies given to questions put by the hon. Members for the Enfield and Bath Divisions on the 1st, 2nd, and 6th instant. The bounty has only recently been offered, and it is too soon to make any statement as to the results. As regards the question of recruiting generally, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Marylebone on the 1st instant by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
Captain FABERHas the payment of bounties to men to remain in India anything to do with the announcement that Reservists of Sections (a) and (b) can come back to the Service?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe questions are not very analogous.