§ MR. BOND (Nottingham, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the prospectus of the Canadian Royal Mail Steamship Company, and to the statement therein contained that the Imperial Government is to contribute an annual subsidy of £51,500 for 10 years from the commencement of the fast Atlantic service which the Company is to undertake; whether such statement is correct; and whether any and what opportunity will be afforded to the House for discussing the matter during the present Session?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESI have not seen the prospectus, but the statement which, according to the Question, is contained in it is correct. An opportunity will be given to the House of discussing the matter when the Vote for the subsidy is submitted.
§ MR. PROVAND (Glasgow, Blackfriars)asked whether they would have an opportunity of considering this Vote before the subsidy was given?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESYes, when the subsidy is submitted, that is the usual time.
§ MR. PROVANDWill the contract be laid on the Table in the same way as the contracts between the Post Office and the Peninsular and Oriental and the Cunard Companies?
§ [No Reply.]