§ MR. MONTAGU (Tower Hamlets, Whitechapel)I bag to ask the Under 1648 Secretary of State for India whether the surplus drawings of Council bills, which now exceed the amount estimated in the last Budget by about £750,000, without reckoning the sum announced to be drawn next week before the end of the present financial year, are in anticipation of the amount required next financial year, and will be deducted from the £16,000,000 estimated in the new Budget?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FERGUSSON,) Manchester, N.E.I beg, in the absence of my right hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for India (Sir J. Gorst), to answer the question. The amount of £14,989,000 in the Budget for 1890–91 has, in the revised Estimate just published, been raised to £15,989,000. The Estimate for 1891–92 is £16,000,000. Unless the sum received up to the 31st instant exceeds £15,989,000, there will be no deduction from the £16,000,000 estimated for 1891–92.
§ MR. MONTAGUCan it not be possible in future to bring the balance nearer?
§ *SIR J. FERGUSSONThe estimates are drawn as carefully as possible. The amount now estimated has been very carefully considered.