§ 31. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State has received a unanimous resolution from the annual meeting of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce protesting against the excessive outlay of public funds on the new capital city at Delhi; and whether large funds will be needed during the next few years in furtherance of the industrial, commercial, and railway development of India?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Charles Roberts)The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. The Secretary of State sees no reason to apprehend that the requirements of industrial expansion in India will be hampered by the building of the new Imperial capital.
§ 32. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can now state approximately what is to be the amount of money to be expended on the new capital city of Delhi?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSThe Secretary of State has learnt from the Viceroy that the estimates for the new capital, as approved by the Government of India, amount to £5,113,000. But, in addition to this, there is a provision of £1,000,000 as a reserve for unforeseen expenditure. The estimates include purchase of land, cost of buildings, and communications, water-supply, sewerage and drainage, parks and public improvements, electric light and power, and salaries and contingencies of various kinds.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSDoes the Secretary of State not consider that these millions could be more advantageously expended in the development of the resources of India than in this experiment?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSThe Secretary of State considers that such expenditure is justified.