§ Sir J. D. REESasked what will be the extra cost of starting the new province of Behar and Orissa with adjuncts of executive and legislative councils, as compared with the cost of a lieutenant-governorship without an executive council?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIf I understand the hon. Member's question rightly, he desires to know the estimated annual cost of the executive council for Behar. The estimate is two lakhs.
§ Sir J. D. REESThat is in addition to the previous cost?
§ Mr. MONTAGUAs I understand it, that is the cost of the executive council of Behar.
§ Sir J. D. REESasked what will be the pay and allowances of the Governor in Council of Bengal, his staff, contract allowance, bodyguard, if any, his executive and legislative council, and other paraphernalia of governorship, personal and administrative, as compared with the cost of the previously existing Lieutenant-Governor, with legislative council; what will be the cost, calculated on the same lines, of the maintenance of the Presidency of Bengal and of the province of Behar and Orissa, and the Chief Commissionership of Assam, with executive and legislative council and with legislative council, respectively, as compared with the cost of the previously existing lieutenant-governorships of Bengal and Eastern Bengal and Assam; whether any and, if so, what new High Courts and Universities will be created in consequence of the subdivision now effected of previously existing administrative units; and how many new offices will be created and at what cost to the Indian taxpayer?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIt is estimated that the total annual cost of the new Governorship of Bengal in Council will exceed by about two lakhs that of the Lieutenant-Governorship in Council. The hon. Member seems to forget that the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal was provided with an Executive as well as a Legislative Council. It is estimated that the cost of the Governments of the three new provinces will exceed by about five and a half lakhs that of the two former provinces. These estimates must be taken as provisional, and I am at present unable to inform the hon. Member how many new offices will be created throughout the three provinces or what their cost will be. No proposal to create any new High Court is being considered at present. The new university which is being created at Lacca will not be founded as a consequence of the rearrangement of provinces, but in pursuance of the general policy of the Government of India for the extension of higher education.
§ Sir J. D. REESWill the new Governor of Bengal be provided with a bodyguard and all the expenses adjunct to the Governorships of Bombay and Madras?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe equipment of the new Governor of Bengal will be precisely similar to that of the other Governorships.
§ Sir J. D. REESasked whether the Government of India proposes to take power to create a High Court at Patna for the new province of Behar and Orissa; and, if so, at what cost?
§ Mr. MONTAGUStatutory power already exists for the creation of a High Court under the Royal Sign Manual. As regards its application to this particular province, I have nothing to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardineshire on 5th March.