§ 3. Commander Viscount CURZONasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is yet in a position to make any statement with reference to the number of British applicants for commissions in the Indian Army, comparing the figures for 1914 with those for 1919 and 1920; whether he is satisfied with the present position; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to deal with it?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)Of the 108 cadets who left the Royal Military College in December, 1913, there were 68 candidates for the 35 Indian Army commissions offered. In December, 1919, out of 148 cadets there 409 were 22 candidates for 24 appointments. The figures in the second case seem to imply a serious falling-off in competition for the Indian Army. It must, however, be remembered, that the cadets who left Sandhurst last December entered the Royal Military College by an examination at which nearly 100 appointments were made to the Indian Cadet College at Wellington, all of them carrying commissions in the Indian Army. These cadets passed into Indian Army in January, 1920, and it is reasonable to presume that had Sandhurst been the only channel of admission to the Indian Army in December last, the competition would have been much keener than the figures given above would suggest. The higher emoluments of the British Service sanctioned last year have obviously made service under the War Office more attractive. But the pay and pension of the Indian Army have been correspondingly increased, and it is yet too early to say how recruitment for the Indian Army will be affected. The position will be clearer when the candidates who entered Sandhurst in 1919, after the Indian Colleges were closed, are commissioned.
§ Colonel YATEIs it correct to say that Indian Army pay and pensions have been correspondingly increased, as so far as I have been able to ascertain, they have not?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI am sorry they are not satisfactory to my hon. and gallant Friend. Every attempt was made to increase them correspondingly, and I have heard of expressions of great satisfaction by officers there.
§ Colonel YATEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the proportion has not been maintained in the pay of the Indian Service?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI did not say the exact proportion had been maintained, but they were increased correspondingly as far as possible.
§ Viscount CURZONMay I ask if the figures represent a falling off in the applications?
§ Mr. MONTAGUWhat I have tried to explain is that there is a falling off with regard to Sandhurst, but you cannot, I think, draw any deduction from that fact because the figures are complicated by 410 the existence of other channels. Next year will give us a much better indication.