§ MR. CALDWELL (Lanarkshire, Mid.)On behalf of the hon. Member for East Perthshire, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India when are the proposals for a tax on jute for carrying out municipal improvements in Calcutta to come before the Government of India; and will he give an assurance that they shall not be assented to until after the House has had full information on the subject.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe Government of India have accepted the tax in principle, but the scheme for the improvement of Calcutta, of which it forms a part, has still to be considered by the municipal corporation and other bodies interested before it can take the form of a Bill. I cannot give the undertaking asked for in the last part of the Question, but full opportunity for making representations will be given to the classes affected.