§ 61. Sir H. Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the agreement with the Government of India as to the payment by His Majesty's Treasury in respect of the service of Indian troops outside India; what is the 1793 total liability to date and how much of this liability is not included in the total of the National Debt.
§ Sir J. AndersonPayments by His Majesty's Government in respect of Indian troops serving outside India are one item covered by the comprehensive financial arrangements on defence expenditure agreed between the two Governments, which were described in the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for India on 29th February, 1940 (OFFICIAL REPORT, c. 2255). All expenditure by His Majesty's Government under the agreement to which I have referred is met from the Vote of Credit, and therefore is a charge to the Budget which, as my hon. Friend knows, is financed partly from revenue and partly by borrowings which add to the National Debt.
§ Sir H. WilliamsCannot my right hon. Friend give the figures asked for?
§ Sir J. AndersonI cannot give separate figures because the cost is not broken down in the way indicated in the Question.
§ Sir H. WilliamsSurely my right hon. Friend must know what the liability is?
§ Sir J. AndersonYes, I know what the total liability is.
§ Sir H. WilliamsThat is what I asked for.
§ Sir J. AndersonNo; my hon. Friend asked for the liability under particular heads.