Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERcalled upon Mr. Ginnell to ask the following question, which appeared on the Order Paper: To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India if he will state the recorded number of deaths and the estimated total number of deaths, respectively, from plague in India in each of the last ten years, and in the whole period?
§ Mr. GINNELLI beg to ask whether the answer to question No. 24 would be of such a character that the Government are ashamed to give one?
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERThe hon. Member (Mr. Montagu) was not in the House when the question was first asked. I called upon the hon. Member (Mr. Ginnell) to ask his question again so as to get the answer.
§ Mr. GINNELLI beg to ask it now.
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)I have to apologise to the hon. Member for not being present. I propose to circulate the answer with the Votes, as it includes a long column of figures.—[See Written Answers this date.]
§ Mr. GINNELLThis question has been on the Paper three weeks. I have been asked to postpone it. I have done so, and I ask for the answer now.
§ Mr. MONTAGUI am going to give the hon. Member his answer to-day. It is customary with a long series of figures to circulate the answer with the Votes.
§ Mr. GINNELLIs the hon. Member entitled to conceal the answer when it is ready?
Mr. DEPUTY - SPEAKERThe hon. Member is not concealing the answer. It is usual when a Minister thinks his reply to a question would take up too much of the time of the House to allow the Minister to have it circulated with the Votes.
§ Mr. GINNELLHalf an hour of the time for questions remains yet.