§ 5. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for India whether the allowance of Rs. 200 per mensem, granted by the Government of India to the wives of officers of the British Army stranded in India during the absence of their husbands, is also granted to the wives of British officers of the Indian Army who are similarly stranded in India during the absence of their husbands on service or owing to having been invalided home in consequence of injury, dysentery, or other disease contracted on service; and, if not, why not?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe answer is in the negative. The allowance in question was given to meet the case of officers of the British Army who, when ordered on service out of India, reverted from the Indian to the British rate of pay. An officer of the Indian Army in similar circumstances retains his Indian rate of pay.
§ Colonel YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the very great hardships suffered by these wives of British officers of the Indian Army, detained in India?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI am considering the matter now, but my hon. and gallant Friend will see that there is no analogy between the two cases, although there is a considerable hardship.
§ Colonel YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider that hardship?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI am considering it.