HC Deb 24 February 1890 vol 341 cc1022-3
MR. BRADLAUGH

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State for India will lay upon the Table the Despatch received by him from the Government of India in July last, recommending the granting of a concession of land 7,500 miles in extent to a syndicate of railway promoters, as one of the conditions for the construction of a railway from Chittagong to Assam, together with any Correspondence thereon; and whether he will state if the Secretary of State has adopted or rejected the recommendations of the Government of India?

SIR J. GORST

In July last the Secretary of State received a Despatch from, the Government of India on the subject of the Chittagong-Assam Railway. The contents of this Despatch are incorrectly described in the question. The matter is still under the consideration of the Secretary of State in Council.

MR. BRADLAUGH

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman that the contents of the Despatch are correctly or incorrectly described in the question?

SIR J. GORST

I said that they are incorrectly described.

MR. BRADLAUGH

As the statement has been repeatedly made, can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what are the correct contents of the Despatch?

SIR J. GORST

No, Sir. I cannot state the contents of the Despatch until the matter has been decided. It is not usual to give such information until a decision has been arrived at.