§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONasked the Secretary of State for India, If it is true that proposals have been made by a private firm to the Indian Government for the purchase of the Rangoon and Irrawaddy Valley Railway; if these proposals have received the approval of the Local Government of Burmah; and, if he will undertake that before the India Council is committed to the policy of the purchase of State Railways by private individuals, he will not only lay upon the Table of the House the exact nature of the present proposals, but also allow the policy of the whole subject to be discussed?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONProposals have been made by a private firm to the Government of India for the purchase of the Rangoon and Irrawaddy Valley Railway, and the Commissioner of Burmah has expressed himself in favour of the transfer of the Railway to a Company on certain terms; but the consideration of the question has been postponed for the present in order that the views of the Government of India may be fully expressed on the general policy involved in such a proposal. I 850 could not undertake to lay on the Table Papers relating to any particular proposal before a decision has been arrived at by the Government; but as soon as any decision has been come to I will give full information to the House.