§ MR. M. M. BHOWNAGGREE (Bethnal Green, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he has received any information regarding the mortality caused in connection with the famine in the Central Provinces and other districts of India up to a recent date; and, if so, to furnish the number and other details regarding the same?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingI have received the following information regarding mortality in the Central Provinces:—Total deaths in 1895, 349,137; 1896, 468,469. The latter year was exceptionally unhealthy, and it appears that cholera, deaths were 37,479 in excess over those in 1895; fever, 59,342; diarrhœa and dysentery, 9,566; small-pox, 1,103; other causes, 11,842. This mortality gives for the whole year a death-rate of 36.03 per 1,000 in 1895, and of 49.03 per 1,000 in 1896 on the present population.
§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the immense extent of the famine area in India and the heavy drain it will entail on the finances of that country, the Government will take into consideration the expediency of making a grant in aid of India from the Exchequer of this country?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.said that he had nothing to add to the answer which he gave to a similar question on January 21. He would remind the hon. Member that in a few weeks the Finance Minister of India would make his official statement to the House.