EARL of RONALDSHAYasked what is the estimated cost of the Calcutta improvement scheme; what proportion of the total cost will be borne by the Government; and by whom will the remainder be borne?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe scheme contemplates a net outlay of about £3,240,000. Towards this the Government of India have contributed a lump cash grant of £330,000. The balance will be raised by loans having a currency of sixty years. For the service of these loans, working expenses, and contingencies, an annual revenue of about £150,000 for sixty years will be required. Of this the Government will contribute £10,000 a year, about £83,000 will be realised from the jute and other special taxes, about £37,000 will be contributed by the Calcutta Municipal Corporation, and £20,000 is estimated to accrue from rents of improved lands.
EARL of RONALDSHAYasked if it is proposed under the provisions of the Calcutta Improvement Scheme Bill to levy an Export Duty upon jute; if so, will the duty be levied upon jute manufacturers as well as upon raw jute; and at what rate will the duty be levied?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe answer to the first question is in the affirmative. The duty will be leviable on all jute, raw or manufactured, shipped to Indian or foreign ports. It will be at a rate not exceeding twopence per bale of 400 lb. on raw jute, and not exceeding 1s. per ton on manufactured jute.
EARL of RONALDSHAYMay I ask the hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the fact that foreign nations, who draw their supplies of jute exclusively from India impose high tariffs on goods which are manufactured both in India and this country, he would submit to the Government of India the advisability of confining the export duty to raw jute, and granting a rebate in the case of raw jute shipped to and manufactured in Great Britain?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better put the question down.