§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India when the Paper which he last year described as an explanatory Memorandum on the Indian Financial Statement will be circulated; and if he can 500 say on what date the Indian Budget Statement will be made?
* SIR J. GORSTThe Paper to which the hon. Gentleman refers will be circulated a few days before the Indian Budget was taken. In regard to the last paragraph of the question of the hon Member, I have to say that I can neither foretell nor fix the day upon which it will be for the convenience of the House to discuss the Indian Finances.
§ * MR. BRADLAUGHPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will remember that last year he gave us two months to consider this Paper.
* SIR J. GORSTThe hon. Gentleman is in error. I did not give two months to consider the Paper. I circulated the Paper when I thought the Indian Budget was coming on, but the House postponed the consideration of it.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)May I ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can give the House any information as to the day upon which the Indian Budget is likely to be taken?
§ * THE FIRST LORD OP THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH,) Strand, WestminsterI am afraid that further progress must be made with the Bills now before the House and with Supply before the Indian Budget can be taken.