MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, having regard to the fact that the Report of the Indian Famine Commission appointed in 1900 was submitted to the Viceroy in May last, whether, in view of the bearing of the Report upon the future administrative action as regards famines, he will state the reasons why this delay has taken place in laying its recommendations before Parliament.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON, Middlesex, Baling)The delay is due to the fact that the Government of India had to consider very carefully the recommendations of the Commission and the action to be taken upon them, which, as I stated in this House on the 8th instant, involved complex and most important questions. I have only very recently received the Report from the Government of India together with a despatch giving the result of their deliberations. As soon as I have dealt with the various suggestions made I shall publish the papers together with conclusions upon them that the Government have arrived at.