§ MR. B. L. COHEN (Islington, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can state when the Report will be presented of the Royal Commission on the administration of the expenditure of India? May I also ask the noble Lord when the proposals of the Indian Government on currency, laid on the Table on Friday, will be in the hands of Members?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAAs to the first Question, I am informed by the Chairman that he hopes within a short time to lay his draft Report before his colleagues. In respect to the second Question, I hoped the Papers would have been distributed on Saturday, 42 but I am told they will be in the Vote Office to-night.
§ SIR H. H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)Will the noble Lord ask for a definition of "short time," as there have been so many short times during this inquiry? The delay is very serious.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAAs the right honourable Gentleman must be aware—for he has undertaken similar duties—I have no control over the Chairman of the Commission, who is quite independent of the India Office.