HC Deb 02 April 1889 vol 334 cc1383-4
MR. HOYLE (Lancashire, S. E., Heywood)

asked the Under Secretary of State for India if his attention has been called to the following remarks made by the Finance Minister for India in his Annual Financial Statement for 1889–90, in reference to the position of silver, that "the present condition is not one of permanent equilibrium," and that the action of the United States of America and the Continental Nations of Europe may bring on a crisis at any moment, and that no solution of the currency question is possible without international agreement; if so, when may a full report of his speech be expected in this country; and will copies of it be placed in the Library for the use of Members?

SIR J. GORST

The full Report should arrive in this country on April 22. I will see that a copy of it is placed in the Library.

SIR E. LETHBRIDGE (Kensington, N.)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government had been directed to the declaration of the Government of India in this year's Budget statement, that "no solution of the currency question is possible without international agreement"; and whether Her Majesty's Government would take any steps to obtain such an international agreement?

*MR. GOSCHEN

If the hon. Member by the "currency question" means the question of bimetallism, then it is true that no solution is possible without international agreement. But the point is whether it would be possible even with international agreement. That is a question upon which the Royal Commission is hopelessly divided; but the House will have an opportunity of discussing the matter on the Motion of the hon. Member for Lincolnshire.