§ 2. Mr. PETOasked the Secretary of State for India whether all officers of battalions of the British Army serving in India receive Indian rates of pay; whether he can state what is the difference between the pay received by a lieutenant in an Infantry regiment serving in India and serving in France; whether he can say whether such officers of the British service serving in India and drawing pay from the Indian Army funds are eligible for the receipt of the children's allowance granted under a recent Royal Warrant; and, if not, whether it is proposed to extend the benefits of the Royal Warrant to the dependants of officers of the British Army serving in India?
Mr. FISHERThe reply to the first question is in the affirmative, and to the second that the pay and allowances of a lieutenant of British Infantry amount approximately to £24 15s. per month, and in India to Rs. 300, plus Rs. 30 special allowance (if a New Army or Territorial officer), equivalent to £24 0s. 9d. at the rate of exchange hitherto current, and to £24 15s. at the new exchange rate of 1s. 6d. With regard to the third question, the Royal Warrant which granted children's allowance does not apply to officers drawing Indian pay. But a revision of the Indian rates of pay of subalterns, and the extension of officers in receipt of Indian pay of the grant of children's allowance is being considered by the Government of India.
§ Mr. PETOWill the right hon. Gentleman make representations to hasten a decision in this matter in view of the fact that officers of the lowest rank—lieutenants—are receiving no higher pay while serving in India than while serving in France; and that, therefore, their wives and children are quite as much in need of these allowances as those officers in the British Army?