§ MR. EMMOTT (Oldham)To ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state how the estimates of local consumption of cotton for purposes other than cotton spinning are made; and whether he will consider the advisability of presenting to the House each year a Return showing, in regard to the previous year, the total estimated yield of cotton both in British India and the Native States, and the export from India and the consumption in India both in cotton manufacture and for other purposes.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) Various estimates have at different times been made of the quantity of cotton locally consumed in India otherwise than by the Indian spinning mills. A summary of the data on which the calculation has been made is given in volume 4, page 55, of Dr. George Watt's Dictionary of the Economic Products of India. I will ask the Viceroy whether any more recent and reliable estimate has been made, and whether the Return asked for by the hon. Member can be prepared.