Dr. RUTHERFORDasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the Viceroy's statement on 12th October at Simla that the deaths from fever in India during the last 10 years averaged nearly 4½ millions, and that last year the deaths were one million over the average, and the increase was believed to be due to malaria, he can say how much money was allocated by the Government of India in 1898 and 1908, respectively, under the following heads, sanitation, irrigation, education, railway, and army?
The MASTER of ELIBANKThe expenditure on sanitation is not recorded under one head in the accounts, as officers of various Departments are engaged in work intended to improve the health of the people. I have, therefore, grouped together, as representing expenditure of this nature, the outlay shown in the Government Accounts under the head "Medical," the outlay shown in the same Accounts under the head "Civil Works" for hospitals, dispensaries, drainage, waterworks, and similar objects, and that shown in the Accounts of Municipalities and other local bodies under the heads "Medical," "Conservancy," "Water Supply," and "Public Health and Convenience." The total expenditure under all these heads amounted to £2,915,000 in 1897–8 and £4,455,000 in 1907–8. I may add that with special permanent grant of £200,000 a year was made in 1908–9 by the Government of India to Provincial Governments to be used for additional expenditure on sanitary purposes. The capital expenditure on irrigation was £462,000 in 1897–8, and £846,000 in 1907–8; but the revenue accounts of irrigation works showed a net receipt of £281,000 in the former year and £646,000 in the latter. The expenditure on education by the Government of India and by local bodies (so far as I have been able to trace their outlay), including the cost of educational buildings, was £1,302,000 in 1697–8, and £2,644,000 in 1907–8. The capital outlay on railways by the State and by guaranteed companies was £6,235,000 in 1897–8, and £10 425,000 in 1907–8. The revenue account showed a net charge of £709,000 in the former year and a net receipt of £1,563,000 in the latter. The military expenditure in 1897–8 was £18,316,000 net. In 1907–8 it was £19,248,000 net.