§ 1. Mr. F. C. THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for India what is the number of Regular officers of the Indian 1269 Army who have been discharged as a result of disability due to active service in the War; and for what proportion of these has the Government of India found employment?
§ The SECRETARY Of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)The number in question is approximately forty. It is not known that the Government of India have found employment for any of these officers, but the majority, if. not all, would be either physically unfit for or not desirous of further employment in India. If there is any discharged officer of whom this is not correct, I should be glad to have my attention called to his case.
§ Mr. JAMESONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are a great many jobs going now in Mesopotamia and Palestine where retired Indian officers would be very useful on account of their knowledge of Oriental countries, and that very few of these jobs have been given to such invalided Indian officers, who are generally poor men who have had to live on their pay all their life and who will be very hard hit if they have to live on their pension only?
§ Mr. MONTAGUPerhaps the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any cases in which preference can be given to retired officers of the Indian Army over any others.