§ SIR MARK STEWART (Kirkcudbright)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the resolution of the Government to exempt cotton from the duties which the Viceroy has resolved to impose on other goods was taken with the assent of any of the Council at Westminster, or of a majority of that body; and whether any members have recorded Minutes of dissent on the subject; and, if so, whether those Minutes can be laid before Parliament?
§ MR. WICKHAM (Hants, Petersfield)At the same time, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the fact that the Council of India wore unanimously opposed to the decision of the Secretary of State excluding duties upon cotton goods from the Import Duties which the Governor General in Council has been recently authorised to impose in order to meet the present financial crisis in India; and if he will object to a Motion for copies of any dissents from that deci- 444 sion which may have been recorded by Members of the Council of India?
§ * MR. H. H. FOWLERThe answer to questions Nos. 11 and 28 is that the resolution of the Government not to impose a duty on cotton imported into India was not taken with the assent of the Council of India. Dissents have been recorded by certain Members of the Council, which will be laid upon the Table if moved for.