§ 6. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether Mr. Lanchester was paid, or is to be paid for visiting Delhi at the request of the Viceroy; and if any payment, other than travelling expenses, has been or is still to be made, what is the amount?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)In addition to travelling and out-of-pocket expenses Mr. Lanchester received a fee of ten guineas a day, equivalent to 300 guineas a month, for the period of his engagement.
§ 7. Mr. KINGasked whether the members of the Delhi Town Planning Committee were paid or are to be paid for their services; and if payments other than travelling expenses have been or are to be paid, what are the amounts?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIn addition to their travelling and out-of-pocket expenses the members of the Committee received fees as follows:—Captain Swinton, 100 guineas a month; Messrs. Brodie and Lutyens, 350 guineas and 300 guineas a month, respectively.
§ 8. Mr. KINGasked whether Mr. Lutyens and Mr. Baker, the selected architects for the New Delhi, are to be paid by salary or by commission; and what are the amounts chargeable on the revenues of India that have been or may be expected to be paid to each of these gentlemen?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe draft of the agreement which the Government of India propose to make with the architects in question has not yet been received from India. But it is understood that payment will be by commission. It is not possible at the present stage to state the estimated amount.
§ 9. Mr. KINGasked whether Mr. Lanchester, when visiting Delhi at the request of the Viceroy, was asked to confer or co-operate with the Town Planning Committee; whether the Town Planning Committee were offered his assistance and advice, if so, by whose instigation was this offer made; and what was the attitude of the Town Planning Committee on this proposal?
§ Mr. MONTAGUMr. Lanchester arrived in India a few days before the Town Planning Committee left for England. Under instructions from the Viceroy, he met the Committee at Delhi, and informed himself fully about the scheme for laying out the new capital which they had prepared. His advice and assistance regarding the scheme was rendered at a later stage and to the Government of India.
§ 11. Mr. NEWMANasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the sites for the new Government offices at Delhi were acquired from their late owners by purchase after negotiation or on any compulsory terms; whether, owing to the action of a ring of speculators, the Indian Government have been forced to purchase the necessary land at a large figure; and whether he will lay upon the Table the total acreage bought by the Government and the price paid for it, and the names of the persons from whom it was acquired?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Secretary of State is not aware that the facts are as stated in the question. For the permanent Government offices in the new capital land will be compulsorily acquired on terms which ensure a fair price. For temporary offices very little land has been bought outright and the Government expect to recover the cost by resale.
§ Mr. NEWMANWho is going to get the land for the town planning?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIf the hon. Member is referring to the permanent site of the new Delhi, the land is going to be acquired under the Land Purchase Act in India, which ensures buying the land at a fair price.