§ Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any action has already been taken by the Government of India in the matter of the reconstruction of the Royal Indian Marine in contemplation of the formation of an Indian Navy?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe Government of India have made certain preliminary investigations and are preparing the necessary plans in advance, but no effective action can be taken to reconstruct the Royal Indian Marine until they are 1665W enabled, as a result of the Indian Navy Bill passing into law, to proceed with the inauguration of the Indian Navy.
§ Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of officers and men employed in the Royal Indian Marine; and what proportion of these are European?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe numbers are: Commissioned officers, 131, all of whom are Europeans; warrant officers, 37, of whom 26 are Indians; ratings, about 1,050, all of whom are Indians. The proportion of Europeans is thus about 12 per cent.