Royal Commission on the Administration of the Expenditure of India (Welby Commission)

Minutes of the meetings of the Royal Commission, held at the India Office, London, between 26 June 1895 and 14 March 1900

The Royal Commission on the Administration of the Expenditure of India, also known as the Indian Expenditure Commission, was appointed by Royal Warrant on 24 May 1895 to inquire into the administration and management of the military and civil expenditure incurred under the authority of the Secretary of State for India in Council, or of the Government of India, and the apportionment of charge between the Governments of the United Kingdom and of India for purposes in which both were interested. The Royal Commission consisted of: Lord Welby (Chairman); Leonard H. Courtney, M.P; W.L. Jackson, M.P; G.N. Curzon, M.P; Sir William Wedderburn, M.P; Field Marshal Sir Donald M. Stewart; Sir E.W. Hamilton; Sir Ralph Knox; Sir James Peile; Sir Andrew Scoble, M.P; G.L. Ryder; T.R. Buchanan, M.P; W.S. Caine; and Dadabhai Naoroji. The Secretary to the Commission was Colin G. Campbell. In July 1895, George Nathanial Curzon resigned from the Royal Commission on being appointed to the post of Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and his place was taken by Robert Gray Cornish Mowbray who was appointed in February 1896. The Commission published a first report with minutes of evidence in 1896. The Commission's final report was signed on 6 April 1900.

Unrestricted

The first report, minutes of evidence, appendices, final report, and copies of correspondence between the Secretary of State for India and the Treasury on the subject of the report, can be found in the Parliamentary Branch Records at IOR/L/PARL/2/278. Other copies of these papers are also in the Military Department Records at IOR/L/MIL/17/5/1898, the Accountant General's Records at IOR/L/AG/49/5/1-2, and the Parliamentary Papers at IOR/V/4/SESSION 1896 VOL 15, IOR/V/4/SESSION 1900 VOL 29, IOR/V/4/SESSION 1900 VOL 57 and IOR/V/4/SESSION 1902 VOL 70. More papers relating to the Commission can be found in the Financial Department Annual Files (IOR/L/F/6).

Indian Expenditure Commission, Vol.I, First Report of the Royal Commission on the Administration of the Expenditure of India; with Minutes of Evidence (London: HMSO, 1896) | Indian Expenditure Commission, Vol.II, First Report of the Royal Commission on the Administration of the Expenditure of India. Appendices (London: HMSO, 1896) | Indian Expenditure Commission, Vol.III, Minutes of Evidence taken before the Royal Commission on the Administration of the Expenditure of India; with Index, Analysis, and Appendices (London: HMSO, 1900) | Indian Expenditure Commission, Vol.IV, Final Report of the Royal Commission on the Administration of the Expenditure of India (London: HMSO, 1900)