§ MR. HOZIER (Lanarkshire, S.)beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India how soon the Government propose to give effect to the Resolution of the House of the 10th April, 1891, calling for the immediate abolition of the Indian Opium Revenue? I would add that the Resolution was supported by 14 Members of the present Administration, and was opposed by none of them?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. GEORGE RUSSELL,) North Beds.The hon. Member has referred to an occurrence not within my personal knowledge, but I am credibly informed that the House of Commons did not, on the 10th of April, 1891, pass a Resolution calling for the immediate abolition of the Opium Revenue. A Motion for the adjournment of the House was defeated, but upon the question of opium, as a whole, the House (as was 232 pointed out a few days later by the First Lord of the Treasury) had no opportunity of expressing an opinion. But the importance of the division of the 10th of April has not been underrated either by the Secretary of State or by the Govrnment of India; and steps have been taken, and further steps are now under consideration, for restricting the consumption of opium in India.