§ 4. Mr. MORGAN JONESasked the Secretary of State for India whether an official estimate has been made of the destruction of property caused by the earthquake in Northern Bihar, in January, 1934; what was the total number of lives lost; how many towns were destroyed; what is the figure estimated to be necessary for the work of reconstruction and recovery; what is the total amount raised by voluntary effort for the relief of the sufferers; in what manner it is proposed to provide the funds required for recovery and reconstruction; whether His Majesty's Government have considered making a contribution from the British Exchequer towards the relief of the sufferings of the earthquake victims; and what decision has been reached in this matter?
§ Sir S. HOARENo estimate of total damage or of the total amount necessary for the work of reconstruction can be given at present as the damage to drainage and soil fertility is not yet known. The damage to Government property is estimated at one crore, that to the property of local bodies at 1¼ crore and that to private urban property at two crores. The number of lives reported as lost was 7,252, but the total number was probably larger. No towns were completely destroyed. I am sending the hon. Member a printed report which indicates on pages 6 and 7 the extent of the destruction in the towns that suffered most. The total amount raised by voluntary effort up to the 10th September was approximately £690,000, in addition to goods to the value of £24,750. As regards funds, these, in so far as they are being supplied from official sources, are being provided, as usual, by the Central and Provincial Governments in India. As regards assistance from the Central Government, I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the speech of the Finance Member of the Government of India when he introduced the Budget. Some further information is given on pages 16 to 18 of the printed report I have already mentioned.
§ Mr. JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the abounding sympathy in this country with the people of this area in the dreadful calamity that has overwhelmed them, and could he not give expression to this manifest and universal sympathy by urging a contribution from the British Exchequer to the fund for dealing with this dreadful disaster?
§ Sir S. HOAREI certainly agree with the hon. Gentleman that there has been a universal feeling of sympathy with the sufferers in this terrible disaster, but I do not think that in the circumstances it is necessary to ask the British Exchequer for such a contribution. Certainly no suggestion has been made to me on those lines, and, even if it were, I should contend that it was not necessary to accede to it.
§ Mr. JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman of the opinion that the £600,000 mentioned would be any way near adequate to deal with the situation?
§ Sir S. HOARENo, Sir, the sum would not be adequate, but large sums are being loaned to the Government of Bihar and Orissa from the Central Indian Exchequer, and I have no reason to suppose that, speaking generally, adequate funds will not be available.