HC Deb 23 March 1900 vol 81 cc176-7
MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the sufferings caused by the famine in India, and to the fact that nearly five millions of people are now on relief works, which number must be largely increased before July, also to the fact that a number of cattle have died, and that the peasants will need more generous relief to start them after the next rains, the Government will consider the advisability of making a famine grant to India from Imperial sources.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The distress caused in India does, I believe, both in area and in intensity, exceed any visitation of recent years; but I am informed that the Indian Government, without resorting to further taxation, have funds sufficient to meet all the calls which are likely to be made upon them.