§ 5. Mr. Gammansasked the Under-Secretary of State for India if the fact that British officers serving in the Indian Army are to be transferred to the British Army means that the Indian Army is being disbanded, either partly or wholly; and what decision has been reached as to the future relationship of the Indian Army to the Crown.
§ Mr. A. HendersonNo, Sir. Partial disbandment of the Indian Army is, it is true, taking place as the result of the transition from war to peace conditions but the transfer to which the hon. Member refers is connected with the impending constitutional changes as they may affect the individual officer. As regards the second part of the Question no decision has been taken. The future relationship of the Indian Army to the Crown must depend upon the future constitution of India, and cannot be decided as a separate issue.