§ MR. LAIDLAWI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Government of Ceylon in November, 1907, accepted proposals submitted by a local firm for the construction of workshops at the graving dock at Colombo; and why the Government cancelled the arrangement on 23rd May, 1908, after the firm had made extensive preparations to carry out the contract.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe Answer to the first part of my hon. friend's Question is in the negative. With regard to the second part, the negotiations broke down because the local firm required the whole available frontage of the harbour.