§ MR. A. MILLSsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for India, When it is likely he will make his statement on the finances of India; and whether he can lay on the table of the House any correspondence on the subject?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, he was not at present in a position to name the actual time for that statement. The matter would come on as soon as he could find a day when there was no other pressing business. He was quite ready to lay on the table the correspondence which had taken place on the subject of Indian finance during the last twelve months.
§ SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBYsaid, he wished to know if the right hon. Gentleman was prepared likewise to produce any authentic account of the speech made by Mr. Laing?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, he did not think it would be a convenient practice to lay on the table of the House reports of speeches made in the Indian Legislature.
§ COLONEL SYKESsaid, he would beg to inquire, whether the right hon. Gentleman did not know that Mr. Laing's statement had appeared in full in the Bengal Hurkaru.
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, he was quite aware of the fact. He need scarcely, however, remind the hon. and gallant Member, that although the speeches of the 412 Chancellor of the Exchequer were reported in The Times, those reports were not submitted to Parliament as official documents.