§ Major POLEasked the Secretary of State for India if he will give information in regard to the estimated economies it is proposed to effect in the military expenditure of the Government of India in the present year; and whether any part of these economies are being effected at the expense of the development of the Indian Territorial Force?
§ Mr. BENNUnder the Stabilised Military Budget system it was contemplated that the figure for military expenditure30W (excluding the special grant for the expansion of the Indian Territorial Force) for the current year would be Rs.54.20 crores. By extension of that system for another year, and by economies and savings in other directions, it has been found possible to reduce the figure for this year to Rs.52.50 crores; and in addition it has been decided, as a temporary measure, to reduce the amount to be provided this year for the capital programme of re-equipment (included in the above figures from Rs.140 lakhs to Rs.80 lakhs. A corresponding reduction from Rs.15 lakhs to Rs.10 lakhs has also been made in the special grant for the expansion of the Indian Territorial Force.