Major D. C. BROWN(by Private Notice) asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in connection with his statement yesterday in regard to the Geddes Committee's Army figures, whether he can state how far there had been a change of mind on the part of the Indian Government as to their necessities in the shape of British troops?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am obliged to my hon. and gallant Friend for affording me an opportunity to correct the statement which I made yesterday on this matter. It is not accurate to say that there had been any change of mind on the part of the Government of India. What I find to have happened is this: At the time the Geddes Committee sat, the post-War establishment of the Army in India had not been decided. I gather that the War Office anticipated that 7,000 men might be found surplus to normal requirements in India, and so informed the Geddes Committee, but it has not been found possible to realise this anticipation in present circumstances.