§ MR. SCHWANNI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Indian Revenues have been charged with an annual contribution of £ 1,000 towards the support of the Imperial Institute; and, in the affirmative case, will he explain on what grounds this contribution has been sanctioned, in view of the heavy taxation already in force in India?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. G. RUSSELL,) North Beds.In September, 1891, the then Secretary of State in Council decided to make an annual grant of £1,000 a year for five years towards the cost of the maintenance of the Indian section of the Imperial Institute. The renewal of the grant at the end of the five years is to depend entirely on the benefits found to have been secured to India by the expenditure. The grant was sanctioned on the ground that the Governing Body of the Institute were in pressing need of funds for the proper accommodation and custody of their Indian economic collections, the charges for which, apart 877 from the permanent cost of maintenance, were likely to be exceptionally heavy for the next few years.