Sir HERBERT ROBERTSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he could explain the increase of £1,056,300 in the revenue derived from opium during the past financial year; whether he could state the quantity of opium sold last year as compared with the quantity sold during the previous year; and whether the increasel revenue was in part attributable to an increase in the consumption of opium in India?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)The expected excess of the revenue from opium over the Budget estimate for 1909–10 is due to higher prices than were anticipated having been obtained for Bengal opium at the monthly auction sales. The number of chests of Bengal opium sold for export in 1909–10 is 42,300, against 45,900 in 1908–9, and the revenue that we anticipate from opium during the current financial year is less by £368,000 than the yield last year. No part of this excess over estimate is due to increased consumption in India. Receipts from the sale of opium for consumption in India are shown under "Excise," not under "Opium."