asked the Under Secretary of State for India, What steps the Government have taken to remedy the block of promotion now existing in the Indian Covenanted Civil Service?

in reply, said, that shortly after the Motion of the right hon. Gentleman on this subject last Session a despatch was sent to India calling the attention of the Indian Government to the facts which the right hon. Gentleman then stated. The Government appointed a Select Committee to inquire into the block of promotion existing in the North-West Provinces. A very elaborate Report, containing important suggestions, was made by that Committee, and received by the India Office in April. The question was one of some difficulty, because whatever might now be done would undoubtedly form a precedent for the future, and so affect the whole promotion and retirement of the Indian Civil Service. Certain proposals had been for some time under the consideration of the Secretary of State, and had been embodied in a despatch, which was now awaiting the sanction of the Council, and he hoped that in the course of 10 days at the latest the despatch would be forwarded to India.

Has the noble Lord any objection to lay the despatch of which he spoke on the Table?

No.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Papers relating to the debts of the ex-King of Oudh, as far as respects the claims of the heirs of the late Sufdar Ally Khan, and to the passing of Act 13 of 1868 by the Legislative Council of India; and to any decision on the claim of such heirs by the Governor General of India in Council and Secretary of State for India in Council?

in reply, said, there was no objection to the production of the Papers except the expense of printing them, as they were very bulky. If the hon. and learned Gentleman who had given Notice of the Question would see him on the subject he thought he should be able to satisfy him that there was no need to publish the Papers unless he was prepared to found a practical Motion upon them.

wished to put a Question to the First Lord of the Treasury with regard to the course of Public Business. It was the impression of many Members that the Education Bill would be taken as the first Order of the Day on Monday, but he now observed that the Prisons Bill was put down as the first Order. It would be convenient to the House if the right hon. Gentleman could state positively whether the Elementary Education Bill would be taken on Monday next?

wished to know what arrangement it was proposed to make with regard to the Appellate Jurisdiction Bill, which he understood was fixed for a Morning Sitting to-morrow?

also asked when it was proposed to take the Crossed Cheques and Valuation Bills?

With respect to the Question of the hon. and learned Serjeant, I have to say that it is not the intention of the Government to ask for a Morning Sitting to-morrow, and I thought that that was pretty well understood. Therefore, we could not deal with the Appellate Jurisdiction Bill to-morrow. But I propose on Monday, the 10th, as the first Order of the Day, to proceed with the Education Bill, and from that time de die in diem until it is passed. I quite agree with my right hon. Friend the Member for the City of London (Mr. Hubbard) that the Crossed Cheques Bill and the Valuation Bill, to which he alluded, relate to subjects which are very interesting; but it is quite out of my power at present to make any arrangement with regard to them.

said, it was the intention of the Government to proceed with the Prisons Bill as the first Order of the Day on Monday next.

said, it was proposed to proceed with the Appellate Jurisdiction Bill on Tuesday, after the Public Works Loans Bill.

asked whether there was the slightest chance of any of the five Scotch Bills on the Paper being brought on that night?

feared there was no chance whatever of their being reached.