HC Deb 26 November 1919 vol 121 cc1821-2W
CAPTAIN ORMSBY-GORE

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the wives and servants of officers proceeding to India on temporary employment or special Government commissions lasting for not more than three or four months have been given privileged or entitled passages by the India Office; and whether the whale of the first-class accommodation on some ships specially chartered by the India Office has been reserved for officers, while on the same ships the wives and children of officers are only allowed third-class accommodation?

Mr. MONTAGU

No special privileges have been given in any case of the kind referred to in the first part of the question. In one or two eases recently in which an officer of high rank has proceeded to India for a short period passages have been taken for his wife and servant in accordance with regulation. As regards the second part of the question, the passages by the particular vessel which I think my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind were alloted by the War Office, and I understand that the accommodation was arranged by the shipping company, who alloted the berthing according to rank.