HC Deb 26 April 1869 vol 195 cc1578-9
MR. E. T. HAMILTON

said, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction exists in India at the want of detail in the Accounts of the Home Charges; whether the Accounts of these Charges as laid before Parliament are circulated by the Indian Government for the information of the public in India; and, whether any representations requesting further detail have been made to the Secretary of State by the Indian Government?

MR. GRANT DUFF

said, in reply to his hon. Friend's third Question, he had to state that no representations requesting further detail had been made to the Secretary of State by the Indian Government. In reply to his second Question he had to say that the accounts of these charges, as laid before Parliament, were published at full length in the Gazette of India for the information of the public in India. In reply to his first Question, he believed some dissatisfaction did exist in India at the supposed want of detail in the accounts of the home charges, but that dissatisfaction, so far as he could discover, was founded simply upon a misconception with regard to the amount of the information which was now laid before the public. At the same time, if the Indian Government had reason to think that the Indian public really wanted further information about the home charges, they could, of course, give it; but, if it did, its appetite for figures must, he thought, be preternatural.