§ 41. Mr. THURTLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the, Government have reached a decision on the proposed arrangement whereby British officers whose units are not borne on Indian establishment but who are in staff or extra-regimental employ in India will, on the termination of their employment in this capacity, be returned to England, and, notwithstanding that they may be temporarily attached, pending absorption, to units on the Imperial establishment, their pay and allowances will continue to be borne on Indian revenues; and whether the proposed scheme contains any provision for the repayment to the Government of India by His Majesty's Government for the services received in cases where British officers returned to this country under the scheme are temporarily attached to Imperial units?
§ Earl WINTERTONIt has recently been decided that such officers, if further temporary employment cannot be found for them in India, shall be sent home for attachment to their own units. This does not affect the incidence of their pay for which Indian revenues have always been liable until a vacancy occurs in the establishment of their unit in which they can be employed.
§ Mr. THURTLEAm I to take it from that reply that officers may be employed upon duties here at home, while the cost of such officers has to be borne by the Indian revenues?
§ Earl WINTERTONI think I can, without trespassing on the time of the House, explain the situation. An officer lent by the British Army to the Government of India for staff duty, when he has ceased to hold those duties is often surplus to the establishment of the unit to which he belongs. Therefore, he cannot be absorbed in that unit until there is a vacancy. The salaries of these officers are, therefore, chargeable to the revenues of India; but it is cheaper to the revenues of India that the officers should come to this country than that they should remain in India where they receive higher rates of pay. Consequently the change results in an economy for the finances of India. It does not impose any further burden, but has rather the opposite effect.