§ MR. FAWCETTasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he can promise, on behalf of the Secretary of State for India, that the right to purchase the Indian Guaranteed Railways, under the Annuity Commutation Clause, will not be surrendered, as it already has been in the case of throe Railways, until Parliament has expressed its opinion on the subject?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONSir, as I understand the Question of the hon. Gentleman, he does not wish me to pledge myself as to what exercise the Secretary of State for India may make of his present powers, but he wishes me to undertake that those powers will not be surrendered without due consultation with Parliament. I am authorized to state that should any alteration or modification in the present agreements be necessary, the Secretary of State will not surrender the powers of the Annuity Commutation Clause without consulting Parliament. This decision is, of course, not binding upon his successors.