§ MR. BUCHANAN (Edinburgh, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Legislative Council of the Viceroy will be able to discuss the Indian Budget of this year, or whether it will be precluded from doing so because no new legislation is proposed; and, how often since 1861 has discussion on the Budget taken place in the Council, and how often has it been prevented from taking place owing to the restrictions in the Indian Councils Act?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportNo new legislation is proposed in this year's Budget, which therefore cannot under the provisions of the India Councils Act of 1861 be discussed in the Legislative Council. During the 30 years of the existence of the Council, as at present constituted, the Budget has been discussed in 16 years, and has not been discussed in 14.