§ SIR DAVID WEDDERBURNasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether it is the intention of the Government to move for the appointment of a Select Committee in order to inquire into the operation of "The Government of India Act, 1858," and into the question of the inadequate control at present exercised over the expenditure of the revenues of India?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said, the Session before last his right hon. Friend the Postmaster General moved for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into and report upon the operation of the Government of India Act (1858), and the other Acts amending the same, with special reference to the control at present exercised over the finances of India by the Council of India, and he presumed that that was the Committee that his hon. Friend wished to see appointed. Several questions in connection with this subject had already come under his notice, and they seemed to him to be of 314 such a nature that they could with most advantage be dealt with by the Government on their own responsibility. Ho was prepared to carefully consider the matter, with the view, if necessary, of proposing legislation; but if he experienced greater difficulty than he anticipated, he would himself move the appointment of a Select Committee in the course of next Session.