HC Deb 03 June 1913 vol 53 cc761-3
7 Mr. KING

asked (1) how many Anglican churches and chapels have been constructed since 1905 in India on sites wholly contributed by the Government of India, and how many on sites partially given or sold for an inadequate price by the Government of India; to what the total value of the land given in such cases amounts; whether such sites are in any cases conveyed outright to trustees or ecclesiastical bodies or persons, or whether the ownership remains vested in the Government of India; (2) how many churches and chapels in India of all denominations have received contributions towards their buildings, either by way of monetary grants or sites, since 1905; how many in the preceding eight years; what is the total value of the grants and sites for erecting these places of worship in the period since 1905, and in the previous eight years, respectively; whether it is the settled policy of the Government of India to encourage the erection of Christian places of worship with funds provided in most part by the non-Christian inhabitants of India; and (3) how many Anglican churches and chapels have been helped since 1905 in India as to their construction by grants of money; what is the total amount of such grants of money; and whether such grants have been paid out of the general revenues of India or out of special taxes or levies paid only by members of the Anglican church?

Mr. MONTAGU

My hon. Friend is, I observe, not satisfied with the information which he derived from the statement furnished to him on the subject and has put a series of thirteen questions for different days on the Order Paper. I would suggest to him that this is not a convenient method of extracting the information he seeks. Most, if not all, of the facts he wants to know must be obtained from India. If, therefore, he will put down an unstarred question of an exhaustive nature the Secretary of State will consider how much information can be got for him from India.

Mr. KING

Am I not entitled to consult my own convenience as well as the convenience of the India Office?

Mr. MONTAGU

Of course! I only made the suggestion. With all respect to the hon. Member, I cannot give information about questions that have not yet been opened up, and it seems to me a very inconvenient method of procedure to keep on sending letters to the Government of India.

Sir J. D. REES

Is it not a fact that the Government of India have not spent money collected from the taxpayers of India of all classes on hospitals and schools, which the people of India do not build?

Mr. MONTAGU

An answer to that question would involve me in controversy.

Mr. KING

Will there be an opportunity of raising this question on the Indian Budget?

Mr. MONTAGU

I think so.

Mr. BOOTH

May I ask why my hon. Friend suggested an unstarred question?

Mr. MONTAGU

In order that I might ask my Noble Friend the Secretary of State. If the hon. Member prefers to put a starred question, and then postpones it for a month, it comes to the same thing.

Sir J. JARDINE

May I ask whether any buildings put up at the expense of the Indian taxpayers are then handed over to any one particular Christian community to the exclusion of all others?

Mr. MONTAGU

I must ask my hon. Friend to put that on the Paper.