§ 17. Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Secretary of State for India whether he can state for the last financial year the cost of the civil administration and the revenue collected in Mesopotamia; and whether he can give an estimate of civil expenditure and revenue for the current year?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI regret that the figures of expenditure actually incurred on the civil administration in the year 1919–20 are not yet available. The sanctioned Estimates were as follow—I give the rupees in millions, for convenience:—
The Estimates for 1920–21 are still under discussion, and I am not yet in a position to give figures.
Receipts … 56,436,510 rupees. Expenditure … 53,987,780 rupees. Surplus … 2,448,730 rupees.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask if a good deal of this revenue is not directly due to the number of troops in the country and their great expenditure incurred by His Majesty's Government in consequence, partly covered by taxation, and is not this picture which he gives the House wholly erroneous when the Army is reduced?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member should give notice of these details.