§ 68. Colonel Sir C. YATEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India, approximately, what would be the additional charge, present and recurrent, on the Indian Treasury if the refund of the 4 per cent contribution by members of the Indian Civil Services be antedated from 1st April, 1919, to 1st April, 1900?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)As explained in my answer to a similar question by the hon. Member for Sevenoaks on the 10th May, to which I have already referred my hon. and gallant Friend, the preparation of the figures desired would entail laborious examination of records and conjectural calculations which would not, in my opinion, serve any useful purpose.
§ Sir C. YATEIs the Noble Lord not aware that this question has been under consideration at the India Office for the last three years?
§ Earl WINTERTONI can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that if it was possible even to arrive at the figures asked for, which is by no means certain, it would involve an amount of labour and expense which I do not think I should be justified in asking the Secretary of State to incur.
§ Sir C. YATEWhat has been done at the India Office during the last three years?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe point my hon. and gallant Friend puts has nothing to do with the main question.