§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India what is now the position of the Deccan Mines question; whether the concession of mining privileges in the Nizam's dominions is still in force; and, whether there is still a question of extending those privileges?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) ChathamThe concession of mining 582 rights to the Descan Company has never ceased to be in force. The Secretary of State has offered, in the event of certain conditions being agreed to by the concessionaires— one of which is the provision of£ 150,000 additional capital—to concur with the Government of India's approval of the extension by the Nizam to 31st December, 1891, of the right of selection by the Company of certain coal mines which are specified in Clause 3a of the concession. To this offer no reply has yet been received. Except as above the Secretary of State has declined to approve of the extension by the Nizam of any further privileges to the Company.
§ SIR G. CAMPBELLIs the further concession confined to the coal mines?
§ SIR J. GORSTYes; to the coal mines only.