§ MR. FAWCETTasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, as the consent of the Council of the Secretary of State for India was not obtained before the expenses of moving the Indian troops to Malta were defrayed out of Indian revenues, he will explain to the House by what authority this expenditure was sanctioned, when it is provided by the 41st section of the Government of India Act of 1858 that the expenditure of the revenues of India, both in India and elsewhere, shall be subject to the control of the Secretary of State in Council, and no grant or appropriation of such revenues, or of any other property coming into the possession of the secretary of State in Council by virtue of this Act, shall be made without the concurrence of a majority of votes at a meeting of the Council?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, there has been no appropriation of the revenues of India for this purpose, but simply an advance on account for services rendered to the Imperial Government. Consequently, no case has arisen such as is indicated in the Question of the hon. Member.