§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can now inform the House when it is likely to be in possession of any Report from the Royal Commission respecting the Indian Opium Traffic appointed in consequence of the Resolution of the House of June 1893.
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERI cannot answer this question without taking this opportunity to give my public testimony to the assiduity with which the Commission have endeavoured to deal with their difficult task. The Commission have for some weeks been working unremittingly at the preparation of their Report. Some delay is inevitable, owing to the residence in India of two of the members; but I have every reason to believe that the House will be in possession of the Report before Easter.