§ MR. R, DUNCAN (Lanarkshire, Govan)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he can give any information to the House in regard to the circulation of the silver coinage of India beyond the borders of that country, whether in countries under our flag or others; and if there is any recognised steady equivalent value of the rupee in relation to the silver coinage of other countries in the East.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. MORLEY, Montrose Burghs)The Indian rupee is used in Ceylon and in various parts of East Africa. The net export of rupees by sea in the five years 1901 –2 to 1905 –6 amounted to RS. 29,798,586= £1,986,600, but I am unable to state the number in circulation in the several Colonies and Protectorates. The exchange between India and Singapore which has a gold standard, is practically stationary; but the exchange with China and Hong Kong, which have a silver standard, is subject to variation, due, no doubt, to changes in the price of silver.