MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that according to the Report of the Bengal Government, annexed to Lord Curzon's Land Resolution of the 16th January, 1902, the rents received by private landlords in Bengal amount on the average to little more than 11 per cent. of the gross produce of the land, and that according to the last Famine Commission Report the land revenue demanded by the Government from ryots in Gujerat amounts to 20 per cent. of the gross produce; that private landowners in Bengal are prohibited from enhancing rents except on specific grounds laid down by law, but that the power of the State to enhance land revenue from ryots in Madras and Bombay is not so limited; and, if so, will he state whether the Government of India has yet taken measures to reduce the ryotwari assessment in districts of Gujerat when it is found to be excessive, and to prevent further enhancement except upon those definite grounds which regulate the increase of rents in the case of private landlords in Bengal.
1206 (Answered by Secretary Lord George Hamilton.) The standard of assessment in Gujerat is not considered immoderate, and does not exceed the proportion of the gross produce which has been advocated as a fair limit for the fixation of rents. There are districts which have deteriorated in value since the last settlement, but in these the Government of Bombay have arranged to reduce the assessment. The Government of India have recently laid down principles which secure liberal treatment to landholders in future settlements of the land revenue.