§ MR. NUTTALL (Lancashire, Stretford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of the Indian Industrial Conference, held at Benares last Christmas, and to the plea for an industrial survey on the lines pressed on the Government by Dr. Forbes Watson in 1872, and supported by Sir Louis Mallet; and whether, looking to the fact that the need for such a survey for the industrial development of India was recognised by the Government in 1888, by the Committee on Industrial Education, and by the Member for Commerce and Industry in the Viceregal Council last March, he will cause early steps to be taken so that accurate information as to industrial products and means of production may be made readily available to agriculturists, manufacturers, and men of business generally.
§ MR. MORLEYI have seen the Paper read before the Indian Industrial Conference in which the need for an industrial survey of India was urged. 125 As the hon. Member is aware, the proposal has received the general approval of the Government of India, and the local governments have been urged to make a survey of the state of indigenous industries within their territories. I trust that this may result in the collection of much valuable information.