§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottinghamshire, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state what are the military and administrative responsibilities incurred by the military advances in Nigeria to Kano and Sokoto; over what area of country and in respect of what population and races these responsibilities apply; whether any charge, and in that case what, has fallen or is estimated to fall on the British Exchequer up to 31st March, 1904.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.Three provinces or administrative districts (those of Sokoto, Katsena, and Kano) will be added to the thirteen provinces previously established in Northern Nigeria, and to each of these provinces the administrative system of the Protectorate will be extended. The responsibilities thus incurred will include the duties of keeping the peace, protecting the people from exactions by their native rulers, rendering the roads safe to traders, and stopping the traffic in slaves. The area of the new provinces is roughly 100,000 square miles. The inhabitants are Hausas and Fulani. It is not possible to give an estimate of their numbers. It is not anticipated that any additional charge will fall on the Imperial Exchequer up to the 31st of March, 1904.