HC Deb 24 July 1902 vol 111 cc1153-4
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the entire cost of entertaining the native Indian princes, invited to England by the Imperial Government as guests of His Majesty for the Coronation, is to be charged on the revenues of India; if not, what proportion of the cost is to be charged, and what is the total sum that the taxpayers of India will have to pay for the travelling expenses and entertainment of the native princes and Indian military contingent who have come to England for the Coronation, in response to the invitation of the Imperial Government.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON,) Middlesex, Ealing

I am in communication with the Treasury on the subject, and am therefore at present unable to give the particulars for which the hon. Member asks. The original estimated cost of the conveyance, lodging, entertainment, etc., of the chiefs, representatives, and military contingent will be found on pages 38 and 53 of the Indian Financial Statement for 1902–3, paragraphs 192 and 218.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

My Question was, is the cost to be charged to the Indian Budget.

LORD G. HAMILTON

A certain proportion of the cost will, unquestionably, be charged to the Indian Budget, and has been included in it. The question I am unable to answer is what proportion will be borne by the Imperial Revenue.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

May I ask whether, in view of the fact that these Indian gentlemen have come to England by invitation to take part in the Coronation, the Government will reconsider the charging of the expenses to the Indian Revenue.

LORD G. HAMILTON

I have told the hon. Gentleman that I am in communication with the Treasury, and I am, at present, unable to say more.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

When may I repeat the Question?

LORD G. HAMILTON

You had better wait until the Autumn session.

MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

May I ask, will there be an opportunity of discussing this matter, and of deciding whether, as these people are our guests, we should not pay the bill?

LORD G. HAMILTON

I have said that these estimates are included in the Indian Budget.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

May I ask whether it was intimated to these Indian gentlemen when the invitation was sent to them that they were expected to come here as "paying guests"?

LORD G. HAMILTON

They are not "paying guests."

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Régis)

If this Question is to be repeated in the Autumn session, will not that be after the Appropriation Bill?

MR. MACVEAGH (Down Co., S.)

And will not the present Chancellor of the Exchequer have retired by then?

LORD G. HAMILTON

That has nothing to do with the Appropriation Bill.