§ MR. JAMES MACLEAN (Oldham)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether Her Majesty's Government has received any representations from the Government of India with reference to the proposed transfer of the seat of Government from Calcutta to Simla, and whether any statement can be made to allay the apprehension created in India by the rumour that the Finance Commission is about to recommend fixing upon Simla as the seat of Government; whether Parliament will be consulted before any definite decision is come to on this matter; and, whether, in case of the transfer of Government to a salubrious spot in the hills, when the unhealthiness and discomfort of life is no greater than in any British town, he will take care that the salaries of the entire official staff becoming resident at Simla shall be reduced and assimilated to that of English officials, for the benefit of the Indian taxpayer?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)No proposal has been made by the Government of India to transfer the seat of Government from Calcutta to Simla. I hope this statement will allay the apprehension in India referred to in the Question. Should such a proposal as that of changing the seat of Government in India be ever made, I have no doubt that Parliament would have ample opportunities of expressing its opinion before any definite decisiou was come to. The Secretary of State will defer the consideration of the necessity of a revision of official salaries until some necessity giving rise to such necessity has arisen.