§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the sale and consumption of opium and bhang in Colombo (Ceylon) has doubled in the last four years, as proved by the receipts of the Colombo Municipality; and whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies will take measures to prevent either licences for the use or the importation of these drugs into Ceylon, except for strictly medicinal purposes?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. S. BUXTON, Tower Hamlets, Poplar)Since 1889 licences for the retail sale of opium and bhang in Colombo have been annually sold by auction, instead of being given, as previously, for a fixed fee; but the number of licences has not been increased. It is true that the receipts from these licences have increased from Rs. 14,000 in 1881 to Rs.26,600 in 1892; but the consumption of opium, as shown by the imports, has only increased about 10 per cent. The Secretary of State will call for a Report on the subject from the Ceylon Government; but he will await the Report of the Commission about to be appointed to inquire into the Opium Question as it affects India, before deciding whether any steps, and, if so, what steps, should be taken to restrict the consumption in Ceylon.