§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Commission, of which Sir C. Scott-Moncrieff is Chairman, appointed by Lord Curzon in 1901 to investigate projects for water storage and irrigation throughout India, began its labours in the latter part of that year, and that evidence was given before it in that year in Northern Guzerat describing several projects for water storage in that province; whether any of these works have yet been put in band; and, if not, whether the Bombay Government can be empowered to undertake them forthwith, so that the rains and surplus floods of the next monsoon may be saved during the current year; and whether any communications that may have been received from Lord Northcote's Government on this subject will be placed before the House at an early date.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing)The Irrigation Commission, of which Sir Colin Scott-Moncrieff is Chairman, has not yet reported, but the members have stated that "they are very sensible that the question of the extension of irrigation in India, in any large and systematic manner, cannot be treated piecemeal; "and I hold the same view. I have not received any communication from the Government of Bombay as to projects for water storage in Northern Guzerat.