§ 11. Colonel APPLINasked the Secretary of State for War, whether he can give the figures showing the average number of British officers serving in India who were granted indulgence passages on troopships to and from India during the decade 1910–20 and for the year 1928, respectively?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe normal trooping services were suspended during the War and the records prior to 1913 have been destroyed. During the trooping season, 1913/14, the number of indulgence passages granted to British service officers serving in India was 8O homewards and 15 outwards. The figures for the trooping season, 1927/28, were seven each way.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEIs it not within the knowledge of the War Office that the number of indulgence passages now granted to British officers serving in India is very much smaller than in pre-War years?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSYes, that is so.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEIs not that a hardship?
§ Mr. THURTLECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether, during the same period, indulgence passages were granted to other ranks?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI cannot say without notice.