§ MR. LEAMY (Kildare, N.)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether, in order to make provision against the prolongation of the present famine in India, which began in July, 1899, he will consider the advisability of inviting Parliament to make an inquiry into the condition of the people affected by the famine, and to ascertain whether more effective means can be employed to deal with it, and also to ascertain whether it is possible to take better preventive measures against future famine; whether he has any official information showing what the supply of food in India has been during the present famine.
(Answer.) The relief given in India to mitigate the distress to which the hon. Gentleman refers has, during the last two years, partaken very much of the character of poor law relief such as prevails in this country; and the numbers in India in receipt of such relief, in proportion to the population, are much less than those at the present moment in Great Britain receiving similar help. The most effective means of dealing with drought in India, which 1364 is the origin of the distress, has been exhaustively inquired into and reported on by the recent Famine Commission, and Railway and Irrigation Commissions are dealing separately with the preventive measures which their respective branches of inquiry suggest. I do not propose to order further inquiries. During the recent famine the supply of food has proved sufficient.—(India Office.)