§ Sir ARTHUR FELLasked the Secretary of State for India what Department attends to the allocation of passages for British persons in India who, for reasons of health, must return to this country; if the military and Government Civil servants have prior claims to the commercial classes; and if he will give orders that a fair proportion of the accommodation available should be reserved for the families of planters and merchants and others who have been obliged to remain in India throughout the War to the detriment of their health?
§ Mr. FISHERThe Controller of passages is a member of the Indian Civil Service stationed at Bombay. He acts under the orders of the Commerce and Industry Department of the Government of India. In each Province a passage priority committee has been constituted. Passages are allotted strictly in order of urgency according to priority certificates issued by the provincial committees. Health is the first ground of urgency. Military and Civil servants have no prior claims, to the commercial classes. The Secretary of State believes that the whole question of providing passenger accommodation from India during the present season has the close attention of the Government of India, and that his intervention is not needed.