§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERasked the Secretary of State for India whether the rate of pay given to a regimental major with five years' service in that rank in a British regiment serving in India amounts after deduction of Indian Income Tax to approximately £824 per annum, whereas the pay and emoluments of an officer of similar rank and similar service at home amounts to £839 after deduction of Income Tax or, if a soldier servant is not provided, to £875 per annum; whether, as the value of the rupee shows no sign of rising to the rate of 2s., on which basis the pay of British officers serving in India was based, this anomaly will now be rectified; and if he is aware that such apparent injustice leads to discontent, in view of the acknowledged fact that a higher rate of pay should be given to officers serving in a hot climate away from their home than to 662W those at home and who are not therefore serving under such disadvantages?
§ Mr. MONTAGUAssuming that the officer be married and without children, the figures given are approximately correct if the exchange value of the rupee is taken as 1s. 4½d. The present rupee rates of pay for British service officers in India were not determined by an assumption that the rupee would remain at 2s. The question of the emoluments of these officers and the effect thereon of variations in exchange is engaging the attention of the Government of India; at present they are not prepared to grant any increase of pay.