MR. H. ROBERTSI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will state what has been the net deficiency on the working of the Indian railway system during the year just closed, and what is the estimated financial result of the operations of Indian railways for the current year; and, similarly, what is the profit, if any, under the head of irrigation during the year just closed, and what is the estimated profit from the same source for the current year, including the gain accruing to the land revenue from irrigated areas?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThe estimates show, as regards railways, a reduction of the deficiency from Rs. 2,660,000 in 1896–97 and Rs. 1,432,600 in 1897–98, to Rs. 878,100 in 1898–99 and Rs. 880,600 in 1899–1900. The honourable Member is, of course, aware that the variations in the deficiency are mainly dependent on the rate of exchange at which the payments in England are made. In India the profit on the working of the railways was 5.20 per cent. in 1896, 5.08 per cent. in 1897 (when the famine and plague affected the returns), and 5.30 per cent. in 1898. In respect of irrigation, the estimates show a profit of Rs. 239,600 in 1898–99, and of Rs. 116,500 in 1899–1900.