HC Deb 30 April 1934 vol 289 cc36-7W
Captain FULLER

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the fixed proportion between British and Indian troops in India; whether this proportion is being maintained; and if it has ever been altered without the consent of Parliament?

Sir S. HOARE

The proportion of British to Indian troops in India is not fixed. It depends on a number of factors embracing the various functions now allotted to the Defence Forces in India, including the Royal Air Force and the Royal Tank Corps. The present proportion for Regular forces alone may be taken as about one to two. If Volunteer formations are taken into account, the proportion is the same, and when military police and the Indian State forces are included, it is nearly one to three.

The last part of the question appears to assume that the proportion is fixed, which, as I have stated, is not the case.

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