§ MR. BUCHANANI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India what are the conditions laid down by the Government of India under which advances are made to the cultivators in the famine districts for restocking their farms; and whether such advances are by gift or by loan, and, if by loan, what are the conditions of repayment, and what is the total amount hitherto advanced or promised by the Government of India for that purpose.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing)The general conditions of Government advances to cultivators, for the restocking of their farms are (1) that they are to be free of interest; (2) that the first instalment of repayment will not be demanded for at least twelve months; (3) that the local governments may hereafter grant remissions in respect of these advances, thus converting them into gifts, according to the circumstances of the recipients. According to the last advices, the sum allotted by Government for those advances was £820,000. The hon. Member is of course aware that a large part of the charitable fund raised by subscription has been devoted to this same purpose.