§ Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for India to what extent British officers serving in India are compelled to employ native servants; and what charges are borne by officers for such services.
§ Mr. AmeryThere is no obligation on a British officer to employ an Indian servant, and personal servants are forbidden to accompany Indian units serving outside India and in operational areas in India. In these areas officers are provided with batmen instead of private servants. In other parts of India, however, while there is no compulsion whatsoever, the employment of an Indian servant tends to be a conventional necessity, although I understand that two or even more junior officers quite frequently share a servant between them. It is impossible to give any figure for the wages of Indian personal servants because these vary considerably according to the district and to the experience of the servant.