§ 3. Colonel Sir CHARLES YATEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India if the Secretary of State has now come to a decision in his consideration of the question of giving come immediate interim relief to the European Government. servants in the various Indian Civil Services to help them in their financial difficulties, owing to the rise in the cost of living and the fall in exchange, pending the Report of the Royal Commission now about to be appointed to consider the financial conditions of service?
§ Earl WINTERTONI regret that I cannot at present add anything to the replies which. I gave to the questions put. to me by the hon. and gallant Member on the 26th February. and by the hon. Member for Sevenoaks on the 19th March.
§ Sir C. YATEWill the Noble Lord be able to tell us anything when we meet again after Easter?
§ Sir HENRY CRAIKIs the Noble Lord aware of the serious embarrassments which civil servants in India are suffering in the meantime?
§ Earl WINTERTONMy hon. Friend knows that I have answered that question on previous occasions. In answer to the hon. and gallant Member for Melton (Sir C. Fate), I do not know whether I shall be in a position to make an announcement when we meet. after Easter.
§ 10. Captain HUDSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in fixing the rates of pay for Indian services in 1919, the Government were guided by the rate of exchange current at that time; and, if so, in view of the depreciation in the value of the rupee, will he consider raising these rates accordingly?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe rise which had taken place in the exchange value of the rupee was one of the factors taken into consideration in fixing the revised scales 5 of pay in 1919, but this must not be taken to imply that it was expected that the exceptionally high rates of exchange then prevailing would be maintained. The matter is one which will no doubt be fully considered by the Royal Commission.