MR. J. B. SMITHsaid, he rose to ask the Under Secretary for India, When the India Budget is to be brought forward; whether the late Secretary of State for India has communicated with the Government of India, as he promised this House in 1864, as to the practicability of making up the Indian Finance Accounts to a period which would enable him to lay them upon the table of the House at the opening of the Session of Parliament; and whether it be the intention of the Secretary of State 1285 for India in future to make such arrangements as will enable him to bring forward the Budget at the beginning of the Session, instead of at the close, as heretofore.
§ MR. STANSFELD,in reply, said, his noble Friend the late Secretary of State had communicated with the financial member of the Council, to whom the subject had been referred. The answer he received was under the consideration of the present Secretary of State, but it did not appear to be sufficiently definite. The Indian Government had been officially communicated with, and when their answer was received he would communicate it to the House.
§ MR. STANSFELDThe communication has only been ordered to-day.
§ MR. STANSFELDsaid, that the finance accounts would be laid upon the table, according to the provision of the law, before the 14th of May; and, as far as the Indian Department was concerned, he should be prepared to introduce the Budget on the earliest day afterwards consistently with the necessities of public business and the convenience of the House.