HC Deb 23 June 1896 vol 41 c1684
MR. HENRY J. WILSON (York, W.R., Holmfirth)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, if he can state what is the quantity of land which has been under poppy cultivation this year in the Behar and Benares Agencies respectively, as compared with the years 1893–94 and 1894–95?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, Ealing

The total amount under opium cultivation in the Behar and Benares Agencies during the last three seasons, deducting that in which the crop was a failure, was as follows:

1893–94 458,181
1894–95 513,804
1895–96 519,072
I am unable, for purposes of comparison, to give the quantities in the Behar and Benares Agencies separately.