§ 23. Major Lyonsasked the Secretary of State for India whether he will express to the Viceroy and Government in India, in the interests of an intensification of the war effort, the view of His Majesty's Government that all official and other 1638 unnecessary entertainments, ceremonies and incidental expenditure should cease?
§ Mr. AmeryThe Government of India are fully alive to the desirability in present circumstances of restricting expenditure that does not contribute to the war effort and have issued instructions enjoining strict economy in all such expenditure.
§ Major LyonsWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries to ascertain whether there has been, and if so why, a whole stream of unnecessary expenses in the last 12 months, expenses that might well have been avoided if there had been the slightest appreciation of what the position must inevitably be by now, and will he take steps to ensure that some consideration is given to the matter by those who are responsible?
§ Major MilnerIs it not a fact that the Viceroy himself has incurred considerable expenditure in that direction by having his own car brought from Delhi, a distance of many hundreds of miles, for one appearance and ought he not to set a better example?
§ Major MilnerWill the right hon. Gentleman let me know whether that is a fact or not?