§ * MR. REESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the deaths from plague in June last amounted to more than .2349 per mille; and whether the like figure for the six months ended June amounted to more than 3.6 per mille of the population of India; what are the losses from cholera and fever and other chief epidemics for the same period; whether the like figures are available in respect of other parts of Asia of more or less similar climatic conditions; and, if 1052 so, whether he will lay them before the House.
§ MR. MORLEYThe hon. Member has correctly stated the mortality from plague in India as a whole during June last and the six months ending June respectively. I am unable to give the corresponding figures for other epidemic diseases, as the mortality from them is not reported month by month to me. In 1905, the latest year for which complete figures for British India are available, the mortality rates for cholera, small-pox and fevers were 1.97, 0.32, and 19.74 per mille respectively. I have no information that would enable me to reply to the last part of the Question.
§ * MR. REESWould it not be desirable when actual figures are given that the figures per mile should also be stated, so as to prevent involuntary comparison with a population like that of these Islands?
§ MR. MORLEYI will consider that.