HC Deb 24 May 1898 vol 58 cc558-9
MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether on June 7th he proposes to deal with the financial proposals of the Indian Government regarding the currency?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA

No. The whole subject has been remitted to a Committee for consideration, and to take the course suggested by the honourable Member would simply be to invite the House to what would be a futile discussion. I propose, in the course I am going to adopt, to follow the precedent of 1877. In moving the Motion setting up the resolution on which the Bill was founded, I will make the usual statement, which will give honourable Members interested in Indian finance the opportunity of discussing the finances of the year.

MR. COHEN (Islington, E.)

Will the Indian financial statement be distributed before the statement as to the Indian Budget is made?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA

Yes; I believe the financial statement as to important details and a short statement by the Secretary of State is ready for distribution.