§ 4. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that officials of the 574 All-India and Burmah covenanted non-gazetted railway services only obtain a free passage home at the end of their service, which may be after 25 years' service in India; whether he can authorise a more frequent free home passage in view of the strenuous conditions of service in a tropical climate; whether he is aware that a petition was submitted to the Viceroy in 1926 and again in 1928; and whether the petition has been forwarded on to the India Office and considered there?
§ Earl WINTERTONUnder existing rules free passages home are provided for the personnel in question not only on retirement but also when granted leave on medical certificate. I am aware, however, that the Government of India are considering the grant of more liberal passage concessions to the covenanted subordinate staff of Indian State Railways. The petition referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend has not been received at the India Office.