§ 13. Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that it is the custom in the British Army in India for the menial work of the various regiments, such as lavatory cleansing, water carrying, etc., to be carried out by native labour, and that the Indian Government make an allowance to pay for suitable native labour to carry 193 out this work in all the depots where British regiments are stationed; that at some of the temporary depots and hospitals where military rank and file are stationed there are no allowances, and the work has to be done by the Royal Army Medical Corps unit, who, if they wish to avoid such work, have to pay from their own mess funds and by subscriptions from the unit for the necessary work to be done; and that there is great feeling among the officers and ranks of the Royal Army Medical Corps in regard to this anomaly; and will he see whether it can be removed?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Richards)I have been asked to reply. I have no information on this subject and will have inquiries made if the hon. Member will be so kind as to give me the names of the places to which he refers.