§ Mr. NIELDasked the Under-Secretary for India, whether he is aware that the late Major-General Thomas Warren Mercer performed long and meritorious service in India, and in particular instituted the Hankeen system, and thereby conferred benefits upon the whole of the Empire of India, as well as other useful reforms in relation to sanitation and the organisation of medical administration among the people for which he was specially commended by the late Governor of the Punjab Province; whether, in respect of those services, any sum of money or Grant has ever been made over and above his Service pay; and whether he is aware that during his military service Major-General Mercer took part in the 1920W second Punjab campaign, and was present at the engagements and battles at Ramnugger, Sadoolapore, Chillianwalla, and Goojerat?
Mr. ROBERTSThe services of Major General Mercer both in the military and civil spheres were appreciated and recognised by the Government. I am unable to say whether he received any special grant.
§ Mr. NIELDasked the Under-Secretary for India whether he is aware that a petition was presented in July, 1911, by the widow of Major Thomas Warren Mercer, on behalf of herself and daughter, that some provision might be made having regard to her necessitous condition, and that such petition was supported and signed by, among others, the late Duke of Argyll, by three Field Marshals, all former Commanders in Chief of India, namely, Field Marshals Earl Roberts, V.C., K.G., etc., Earl Kitchener, K.T., G.O.B., etc., and the late Sir George White, V.C., G.C.B., etc.; and whether, having regard to this support and to all the circumstances of the case, the Secretary of State will make some compassionate grant to Mrs. Mercer either out of Lord Clive's Military Fund or other fund at the disposal of the Secretary of State in order to relieve her need?
Mr. ROBERTSI have been unable to trace the particular petition referred to; but the case of Mrs. Mercer has on several occasions been fully considered by the Secretary of State for India in Council in all its aspects, including the services of her late husband. There is no special fund at his disposal from which assistance could be given; and he has been unable to find any ground on which a special grant, which would have to be defrayed from Indian revenues could be justified.