§ MR. MACLEAN (Cardiff)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the terms of reference to the 1539 Indian Currency Committee, authorising them to submit any modifications of the proposals of the Indian Government, or any suggestions of their own, for the establishment of a satisfactory system of currency in India, leave the Committee a free hand to deal with the question of the results that have followed the closing of the Mints, and to recommend, if they think fit, the re-opening of the Mints for the coinage of rupees; and, if not, what are the limitations imposed by the terms of reference on the scope of the Committee's inquiry?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAI am glad of this opportunity of removing any possible doubts as to the object with which I appointed this Committee. The Currency Committee is a body of practical men assembled for a practical purpose, and they are empowered to inquire into any matter which they may think relevant to the subject which has been referred to them. If, therefore, they consider an inquiry into the policy of closing the Indian Mints to be relevant to that subject, and if, having regard to the circumstances of the time and the practical possibilities of the case, they desire to make such inquiry and report upon its results, there is nothing in the terms of reference to prevent them from doing so.