§ SIR H. COTTONTo ask the Secretary of State for India what has been the average price of opium at the Calcutta sales, month by month, since January last; and what is the average price estimated in the Budget for the current year.
§ (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The average price per chest of opium at the Calcutta monthly sales since January 1907 has been as follows:—
| RS. | a. | P. | |
| January | 1,373 | 1 | 1 |
| February | 1,364 | 4 | 5 |
| March | 1,511 | 8 | 8 |
| April | 1,456 | 10 | 4 |
| May | 1,411 | 9 | 4 |
| June | 1,427 | 8 | 1 |
| The average price estimated in the Budget for 1907 –8 was RS. 1,250. |