MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will state the number of deaths from plague in India from January 1st, 1905, to the week ending April 1st last; whether he will give the latest information in his possession as to the mortality from plague during the month of April; and whether he will arrange for the publication of the weekly tabular returns of plague in the English newspapers.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOK INDIA (Mr. BEODBICK, Surrey, Guild-ford)From January 1st to the week ending April 1st inclusive the number of plague deaths was 471,744. In April for the four weeks ending April 29th the mortality was 215,961. Under arrangements lately made the plague mortality in each calendar month will be reported to me by telegram, and I propose to communicate it regularly to the Press for the present. The weekly-statements are not in a form suitable for the requirements of the Press, and they are three weeks old when received.