§ 5. Mr. AYLESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any interest has been paid to India on the sum of about £7,000,000 advanced by the Government of India from time to time for military operations in Iraq during the years 1918 to 1921; and whether the consent of Parliament was obtained for this utilisation of Indian money for military operations outside India?
§ Mr. RICHARDSThe answer is in the negative. The sums to which I gather my hon. Friend refers do not, my Noble Friend is advised, come within the provisions of Section 22 of the Government of India Act. They represented, in the main, account balances in respect of money order transactions, for the greater part relating to the year 1920–1921. Repayment was made in the course of 1921–1922. It would have been contrary to practice prevailing between the India Office and other Departments of State to claim interest on the moneys, and the facts of the case were not held to justify departure from the normal practice, which is, of course, reciprocal.
§ 8. Mr. BROADasked the Under-Secretary of State for India. whether, in view of the fact that a sum of £200,000 was paid out of Indian revenues to the War Office in 1919 as a contribution towards military operations beyond the frontiers of India, he will state whether the sanction of this Parliament was obtained for this payment?
§ Mr. RICHARDSThis payment was in respect of an exchange concession in connection with certain sterling war gratuities, which were converted into rupees at the rate of 1s. 4d. to the rupee, instead of 1s. 8d., the rate current at the time of issue, August, 1918. The question of the incidence of cost of this concession was submitted to the arbitration of an hon. Member of this House, who decided that the whole cost should be borne by India. The question whether the payment will require the sanction of Parliament is under consideration along with other matters under discussion between the Government of India and the Imperial Government.
§ 9. Mr. HOFFMANasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, seeing that £13,000,000 were paid out of 849 the Indian revenues to the War Office in 1919 as a contribution towards military operations beyond the frontiers of India, and that it is laid down in Section 22 of the Government of India Act that the consent of both the Houses of Parliament must be taken for the employment of the Indian Army beyond the Indian frontiers, he will say whether such consent was asked and obtained?
§ Mr. RICHARDSHis Majesty's Government were informed that the payment in question was provisional and subject to the ultimate approval of Parliament. Various questions affecting the substance and form of the Resolution which would be required have been under discussion between the Government of India and His Majesty's Government and have delayed its submission. In the meantime the payment, as I have said, is provisional and subject to such adjustment as may be found necessary.