§ Mr. BIGLANDasked whether any portion of the Excise duty on cotton goods in India, which amounted to £2,326,605 revenue to the Government of India, was returned to the cotton spinners in India on goods manufactured by them and exported abroad; and, if so, how much?
§ Mr. MONTAGUSo far as can be ascertained, some £35,000 in all has been paid from 1896 to 1911 by way of drawback on Indian cotton goods exported abroad after payment of the Excise duty. The system of collecting the duty is such that ordinarily exports of cotton goods are made from bond and are not assessed to duty. Payment and refund of duty is, therefore, the exception.