§ 94. Colonel Sir C. YATEasked the Secretary of State for India what is to be the total strength of the 21 cavalry regiments and 132 infantry battalions to which the Indian Army is to be reduced; and what percentage will that strength bear to the total population of India?
§ Mr. PARKER (Lord of the Treasury, for Mr. Montagu)The total strength of the 21 cavalry regiments and 132 infantry and pioneer battalions amounts to 117,670 Indian ranks, being a percentage of 0457 of the population of British India. It may, however, be pertinent to remark that the Army in India does not consist of cavalry and infantry alone, and that the total of the Indian fighting personnel provided for in the Government of India's Estimates of Military Expenditure for the year 1921–22 is 145,376, besides 44,003 reservists.
§ 98. Sir C. YATEasked the Secretary of State for India the names of the officers who formed the committee to decide the constitution of the 21 cavalry regiments and 132 infantry battalions to which it is proposed that the Indian Army should be reduced to?
§ Mr. PARKERMy right hon. Friend regrets that he is not able to give the names of the officers comprising the committee on the cavalry and infantry, respectively, without inquiry from India.