§ SIR M. BHOWNAGGREEI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if the Government of India has expressed itself in favour of including that country in the Imperial Penny Postage scheme; what share is borne by her at present of the postal contract between England and India; and whether, in case she is to be included in the new scheme, it is intended to make any alteration in the contract and in the amounts payable by the two countries respectively under it?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonAt the recent Postal Congress the representative of British India made no announcement on the question of the adoption of the penny postage scheme by the Government of India, nor has the Postmaster General since received any 295 notification from that Government on the point. The contribution of the Indian Government towards the cost of the service under the old contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Company was £60,600 per annum. The present contract is for seven years, from the 1st of February, and is not susceptible of alteration on the ground of a change in the postage. The question of the contribution to be paid by the Indian Government under this contract is not yet decided, but, of course, if penny postage between England and India were adopted India would have to bear her share of any loss arising from its adoption.