§ 18. Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for India what advances in the rates of pay have been made to second-lieutenants, lieutenants, captains, majors, lieutenant-colonels, and colonels, in the Indian Army since the outbreak of war?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe pay of officers of the Indian Army has been indirectly increased during the War by the following measures:
- (1) Accelerated promotion up to Major, carrying pay of rank from 1st September,. 1916.
- (2) Children's allowances from 1st October, 1917, for officers up to Captain.
533 - (3) Acting rank up to that of Lieutenant-Colonel with pay for officers temporarily holding higher appointments.
- (4) In addition, the ordinary leave pay of Indian Army officers has been considerably improved, as also the leave pay for the first nine months of officers invalided from field service.
- (5) No general increase in the rates of pay of officers of the Indian Army has so far been granted, but the Government of India are considering the extension to them of the bonus in creases of pay recently granted by His Majesty's Government to officers of the British Regular Army for the period during which armies of occupation may be necessary.
§ 19. Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for India whether the Indian Government in paying officers of the Indian Army have cancelled the rate of exchange compensation allowance which had previously always been admitted; and, if so, what is the reason for this action?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe answer to the first question is in the affirmative. As stated, in my reply to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Melton on the 23rd October last, the instructions were issued by the Government of India under the standing orders relating to this allowance, which falls as the exchange value of the rupee rises.
§ Viscount WOLMERIs not the effect of this substantially to reduce the pay of officers in the Indian Army?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI do not think so. The exchange compensation allowance has has been reduced as the rupee rose from 1s. 4d. to 1s. 6d.
§ Colonel YATEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is no officer in the Indian Army who can afford to remit money homo—he cannot live on it as it is—and is it not therefore a reduction?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIf my hon. and gallant Friend will read the answer I gave last October, that will give the actual effect upon the pay of an officer of this arrangement. It does not reduce it.
§ Viscount WOLMERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of feeling about this in the Indian Army?
§ Mr. MONTAGUYes; I am aware of that. I think it arises from a lack of appreciation of the effect.