§ MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether there is at the India Office a Copy of a Circular Memorandum, No. 21, "Office of Quartermaster General in India," addressed. to General Officers commanding Divisions and Districts, dated from the Army Headquarters, Simla, June 17, 1886, and signed by E. F. Chapman, Major General, Quartermaster General in India, on the subject of Cantonment Lock Hospitals; and whether he will lay that Circular Memorandum upon the Table of the House?
§ MR. JAMES STUARTWill the hon. Gentleman take steps to obtain the Return?
Sin JOHN GORSTI cannot possibly undertake to obtain a Return of the existence of which I have no knowledge.
§ MR. JAMES STUARTIf I state that I have seen the Return, will the hon. Gentleman, under those circumstances, take steps to obtain it?
SIR JOHN GORSTI made a very full statement to the House some time ago, in which I said that the Secretary of State would not apply to the Government of India for any Reports and Papers on this subject until the full Report promised by the Government of India had been received, considered, and a decision founded thereon.
§ MR. JAMES STUARTIs the hon. Gentleman going to exclude all information outside that Report?
§ [No reply.]
§ MR. JAMES STUARTI have a right to an answer. The hon. Gentleman has refused to give the Return because he has no official knowledge of its existence; and then he says he will ask for no Papers until the Report of the Government of India has been received and a decision arrived at.
§ MR. SPEAKERIt is within the competence of a Minister to refuse to answer a Question.
§ MR. JAMES STUARTDo I understand that the hon. Gentleman refuses to answer?
SIR JOHN GORSTI have not refused to answer any Question. If the hon. Gentleman wishes for any further answers to those which I have given, I shall be much obliged if he will give the usual Notice.
§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)The reply of the hon. Gentleman in the first instance was yes. I think the House is entitled to know what is meant by that yes.
§ [No reply.]