§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether there was any special reason for departing from the old rule of making land settlements for 30 years in the Central Provinces of India, which rule was observed in most of those parts in 1863–70; whether the reduction in the term of settlement to 20 years was made with the view of making a fresh assessment after this shorter period; whether, in view of the recent severe famine, the Government will adhere to the old rule and declare the present settlement good for 30 years; and whether he can state what is the land revenue of the Central Provinces as actually fixed by the revised assessments?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingTwenty years, instead of 30, was made the term for recent settlements in the Central Provinces on the 558 general grounds that the quantity and value of agricultural produce in those tracts had increased so greatly that it was not possible to assess upon the ryots, at a single settlement, reasonably adequate rents; and that a term of 30 years was not required to secure the further progress of the people during the coming settlement. It will depend on the view taken of the then circumstances whether a fresh assessment will be made in the Central Provinces 20 years hence. I see no sufficient reason for directing an alteration of the term of settlement at the present time; my answer of Tuesday last explained how difficulties caused by the famine were being met. In my answer to the hon. Member's Question of the 8th March I stated the land revenue of the Central Provinces for the year ending September, 1896, as compared with the revenue before the recent settlement operations. When all the settlements are concluded I shall be able to furnish a statement of the total land revenue of the Central Provinces before and after the settlements.