§ 31. Sir H. CRAIKasked the Secretary of State for India if the Report of Sir W. Vincent and General Bingley upon the medical arrangements in connection with the Mesopotamia Expedition has yet been received; and, if so, when it will be published?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Chamberlain)The Report has not yet been received.
§ 33. Mr. ANNAN BRYCEasked the Secretary of State for India whether the sum of at least sixteen lakhs of rupees was put by princes and other wealthy persons in India at the disposal of the Government of India for the purpose of a proper medical equipment of the expedition to Mesopotamia; if so, what portion of that sum 1518 was applied to such equipment; and what Department or officer of the Indian Government was responsible for the expenditure or non-expenditure of the money?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo such gift has been reported to me by the Government of India. Several Indian chiefs combined to present a hospital ship for the general purposes of the War, and some motor ambulances, motor cars and the like have been presented by individual donors or by communities for the troops in Mesopotamia.
§ 86. Sir HENRY CRAIKasked the Postmaster-General whether the postal rates of letters and parcels for the forces in Mesopotamia have been increased?
Mr. PIKE PEASEThe postage rates for parcels sent from the United Kingdom to the Indian troops forming part of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force have been recently assimilated to those which have always been in force for the rest of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, namely, 1s., 2s., and 3s. for parcels weighing 3 lb., 7 lb., and 11 lb. respectively. There have been no other changes in rates of postage.