§ 3. Captain MACNAMARAasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that recruiting posters lead prospective recruits to believe that they will be fed free in the Army, but that there are units in India where soldiers supplement their rations out of their own pockets; whether he will state what are the units and how much the men pay; and whether steps can be taken to save soldiers such expenses?
§ Mr. BUTLERFree rations are issued in India to soldiers of the British Army, and in addition messing allowance is paid by Government at the rate of 3½ annas per day per man. Some units find this sufficient; others supplement it by a small messing subscription of one or two annas. Since this is a matter for regimental arrangement I have no detailed information regarding the units concerned and the amounts paid.
§ Captain MACNAMARAIs it not a fact that if regiments find it necessary to supplement their daily rations, there is bound to be complaint among soldiers in India, which is passed on to England and is likely to affect the recruiting here?
§ Mr. BUTLERI understand these arrangements are made by the mess committees, and while I realise the point raised by the hon. and gallant Member, I am not aware of any great dissatisfaction.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESIs there any justification for inviting private soldiers to pay for their rations out of their own pockets.
§ Captain GUNSTONWill the hon. Gentleman obtain more information concerning the opinion in the Army on this matter by consulting his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War?
§ Mr. BUTLERAll members of the Government are always in close touch with one another on these important matters, and the authorities in India constantly keep in touch with the commanding officers on such questions as these.
§ Mr. BUTLERAs I said in the original reply, many units find the mess allowance provided sufficient. In cases where they do not, they make a voluntary subscription of a few annas and satisfactory arrangements are made.
§ Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXIs it not the duty of the Government to provide sufficient, so that no regiment takes the private soldiers' pay from them?
§ Mr. BUTLERI assure hon. Members that this is done voluntarily by agreement among the men.
§ 4. Captain MACNAMARAasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a private soldier on landing in India is put to personal expense owing to lack of adequate or correct supply of uniform and equipment; and whether he will arrange that in future no such expense falls on soldiers, in view of the fact that they join the Army understanding that they will be clothed free?
§ Mr. BUTLEROn enlistment a soldier receives a free issue of clothing and necessaries, and his emoluments include an allowance for the purpose of maintaining his personal clothing, etc. On proceeding to India he is required to provide himself with additional articles of clothing; the value of these items is recovered by instalments not from his pay but from the clothing allowance to which I have referred.
§ Captain MACNAMARAIs it not a fact that these clothes and equipment which the soldier has to supply on arriving in India are out of all proportion to his clothing allowance, and that this constitutes a heavy burden on the individual soldier, putting him in debt for a long time?
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that many of these soldiers are compelled, by reason of the condition of their families, to send money home, and that if some of the money is deducted in this way, there is less available to send to their families?
§ Captain GUNSTONIs my hon. Friend aware that when a soldier goes to India he often finds his pay is reduced because of his constantly having to buy these articles?
§ Mr. BUTLERThis money is deducted from the allowance. I agree it is a burden -on him, but it is not deducted from his pay.
§ 5. Captain MACNAMARAasked the Under-Secretary of State for India the daily rate of extra ration or maintenance allowance allowed, respectively, to officers and soldiers when travelling in India?
§ Mr. BUTLERThe travelling allowance payable to an officer includes an element in respect of subsistence during the journey. For halts away from his headquarters a daily allowance amounting at least to a scale of from Rs.5 to Rs.10 a day, according to his pay, is admissible. A soldier ordinarily travels on warrant and is provided with free rations. Where it is not possible to supply him with meals during a journey, an allowance of R.1, Annas 13 a day is granted in lieu.
§ Captain MACNAMARAIs there not a great divergence between what is allowed for soldiers and officers in India, and is it not a fact that on Indian railway stations there is only one restaurant, and no coffee-stall or anything of that sort, so that the soldiers are put to exactly the same expense for food as officers?
§ Mr. BUTLERI think the hon. and gallant Member should realise that the authorities in India have the interests and welfare of the troops at heart, and do their best to provide proper accommodation and mess arrangements for them.
§ Captain MACNAMARAIs it not a fact that this is a genuine grievance among soldiers in India?