§ * MR. T. HART-DAVIES (Hackney, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that only a little more than eighty-one lacs were spent on irrigation during 1905–6, though the Budget allotment for that purpose was 125 lacs; and whether, considering the importance of irrigation in India, he will take measures to secure the full Budget allotment being spent this year.
§ * THE UNDER - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. JOHN ELLIS,) Nottinghamshire, RushcliffeMy attention has been drawn to the lapse in the grant to which the hon. Member refers. I do not think it implies any relaxation in the efforts which the Government of India are making to carry out their programme of irrigation works. But in the construction of large and costly works, changes in the design or general arrangements involving postponement of expenditure, are occasionally found necessary, and it is then difficult to avoid failure to spend the whole grant allotted. I will call the attention of the Government of India to the subject.