9. Mr. GEORGE LLOYDasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the attention of the Secretary of State for India has been drawn to the fact that Messrs. Forbes, Forbes, Campbell, and Company, Limited, have applied for a concession from the Government of India, which would have the effect of granting them a monopoly of transit between Kashmir and British India; and whether, before granting such monopoly, he will order an inquiry to be made as to its effect on the public interest, and also as to the circumstances under which Messrs. Forbes, Forbes, Campbell, and Company ousted Mr. W. R. Shaw, late one of their servants in the Public Works Department, from all share in a project the origin of which was entirely due to his enterprise and technical skill?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSThe Secretary of State is aware of an application resembling the one mentioned by the hon. Member, but of narrower scope. The application has been very fully considered by the Government of India both on its merits and as regards the relations between Mr. Shaw and the company. In its latter aspect, it has also engaged the attention of the Secretary of State in Council, who satisfied himself that the matter in dispute was one for settlement between those two parties. He sees no reason to direct further inquiry.