Captain BENNasked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of British soldiers serving in India who have been sent from home and have not been returned for a period of 10 years or over; the number who have been away for 15 years; and the number who have been away for 20 years?
Sir L. WORTHINGTONEVANSI have been asked to reply. In order to give the information asked for, it would be necessary to carry out an extensive examination of documents in the Record Offices, and it is not clear to me that the value of the information would justify the time and labour expended in preparing it. I may say, however, that, under the King's Regulations, soldiers with nine years' total service who have served abroad continuously for six years can apply to be posted to the home establishment, and it is the policy and practice to bring such men home as soon as a relief is available; it is therefore unlikely that any men have served continuously abroad for more than 10 years except with their own consent