§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked whether any communication had passed from the India Office to the Indian Government concerning the forthcoming Coronation Durbar prior to the framing of this year's Estimates by the Indian Government?
§ Mr. MORRELLalso asked whether the hon. Gentleman could say how the Estimate of a sum of £940,000, which has been provided in the Budget statement of the Government of India to defray the cost of the proposed royal visit, was arrived at; whether any instructions were sent to the Government of India by the Secretary of State upon the subject; and whether any particulars of the objects in respect of which this provision has been made have yet been submitted to him?
§ Mr. MONTAGUAs I stated in the House on 14th March, 16th March, and finally in answer to the hon. Member for Burnley on 29th March, the Secretary of State has not yet received from the Government of India the full details which they are to submit regarding the Estimate. But the Government of India have informed him that £633,300 represents their estimate of the Civil expenditure that they will have to meet, of which the greater part will be for the Durbar at Delhi, and £306,700 represents their Estimate of the military expenditure consisting mainly of the cost of manœuvres and a Review at Delhi. The Government of India have also stated that a financial officer has been specially appointed to supervise the Estimates and to act as financial adviser regarding expenditure on the Royal Visit. Before sanctioning the publication of the Estimate in the Financial Statement the Secretary of State made some suggestions to the Government of India for financial supervision and economy, in consequence of which the 1978 figure is somewhat lower than the Government of India originally proposed. He has also asked that every effort shall be made to keep the actual expenditure well within the estimated amount. Beyond this he has issued no instructions to the Government of India.
§ Mr. MORRELLCan my hon. Friend tell me how the Indian Government obtained their instructions?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Government of India received the welcome news that His Majesty the King-Emperor was to visit India and were asked to make arrangements to welcome him, and they then submitted their Estimate for the Budget.
§ Mr. MORRELLMay I ask whether the Government of India received this welcome news from the Secretary of State?
§ Mr. MONTAGUNaturally the Secretary of State was the channel through which the Government of India were informed of the visit.