HL Deb 13 July 1937 vol 106 cc375-8
LORD CLWYD

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question standing in my name on the Paper.

[The Question was as follows: —To ask His Majesty's Government what was the amount in pounds sterling of the net Excise revenue of India for the years 1933–1934, 1934–1935 and 1935–1936 respectively; what was the recorded consumption of country spirits in 1935–1936.in Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Sind, Bihar and Orissa, the United Provinces, the Punjab, the North-West Frontier Province, the Central Provinces and Berar, Assam and Burma respectively; what was the number of shops licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor, the net amount of Excise revenue, and the cost of Excise administration in each Province in 1930–1931 and 1935–1936; and what was the percentage of Excise revenue compared with the total revenue accruing to the Provincial Governments in each case for the year 1935–1936.]

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (THE MARQUESS OF ZETLAND)

My Lords, I have here the figures which are required to reply to the noble Lord's Question, but, as he will of course be aware, there are several tables of figures and with his permission therefore I will circulate them with the OFFICIAL REPORT. I am glad to have been able to give an answer to the Question of the noble Lord. I have been able to do so because his Question refers to years prior to April i last, but it will not have escaped the noble Lord's attention that after April i last the responsibility for the Excise policy and for the administration of the Excise Acts in India passed to the Indian Governments, who are responsible not to Parliament here but to the legislative bodies in India itself. I would explain, therefore, that should the noble Lord on some future occasion desire to obtain similar information, I should not be able to demand it from the India Governments as of right, but I have no doubt that if the noble Lord wished for the information—and I know the great interest he takes in this particular matter —I should be able to obtain the information for him as a matter of courtesy.

LORD CLWYD

My Lords, I am very much obliged to the noble Marquess for the explanation which he has given in regard to the position in the future, so far as asking questions in this House and in the other House is concerned. I fully understand the situation, and I can only say that if I decide again to ask him for similar information, I understand that I can only ask him whether at that time it is possible for him to give a reply.

The figures referred to as are as follows:

1. Net Excise revenue of India (converted into sterling at is. 6d. per rupee):

Year. £
1933–34 11,247,655
1934–35 11,285,615
1935–36 11,446,830

2. Recorded consumption of country spirits in 1935–36:

(London) Proof gallons.
1. Bengal not available
2. Madras 963,325
3. Bombay (a) 1,046,424 1,040,197
4. Sind (a) 108,899 109,254
5. Bihar and Orissa 604,422
6. United Provinces 499,858
7. Punjab (b) 376,045 not available
8. North West Frontier Province. 34,116
*9. Central Provinces and Berar. *332,530
10. Assam 210,302
11. Burma (b) 67,901 94,535
* Calendar year 1935.
(a) Revised and separated figures for 1934–35.
(b) Figures for 1934–35 were not available when the Question set in 1936 was answered, and are now inserted.

3. Number of shops licensed for the retail sale of intoxicating liquor in each Province for 1930-31 and 1935–36:—

1930–31. 1934–35. 1935–36.
1. bengal 56,249 not available.
2. Madras 15,834 16,100
3. Bombay 2,895† 2,913 (a) 3,682 3,686
4. Sind l68† 176 (a) 315 298
5. Bihar and Orissa 9,743 16,143
6. United Provinces 4,265 4,274
7. Punjab 4,991 (b) 5,641 not available.
8. North West Frontier Province. 82 89
1930.* 1935*
9. Central Provinces and Berar. 2,362 2,272
1931.*
2,313
10. Assam 266 360
11. Burma 1,249 (b) 1,329 1,322
* Calendar years.
† Revised figures for 1929–30.
(a) See note (a) above.
(b) See note (b) above.

4. Net amount of Excise revenue and charges for collection of Excise revenue in each Province in the years 1930–31 and 1935–36, and percentage of net Excise revenue to total Provincial revenue in 1935–36:—

Province. 1930–31.
Net Excise revenue. Cost of collection.
Rs. lakhs. Rs. lakhs.
Bengal 180.2 21.8
Madras 524.3 46.7
Bombay and Sind 304.4 42.0
Bihar and Orissa 142.1 l8.2
United Provinces 112.2 13.0
Punjab 111.5 12.8
North West Frontier Province. — —
Central Provinces and Berar. 86.3 11.7
Assam 58.4 8.7
Burma 107.5 24.3

Province. 1935–36. Percentage of net Excise revenue to total Provincial revenue in 1935–36.
Net Excise revenue. Cost of collection.
Rs. lakhs. Rs. lakhs.
Bengal 133.7 18.0 11.7
Madras 408.3 35.2 25.7
Bombay and Sind. 365.8 43.2 23.7
Bihar and Orissa. 143.7 17.1 26.1
United Provinces. 140.7 11.8 11.8
Punjab 99.7 11.0 9.4
North-West Frontier Province. 8.6 0.8 5.0
Central Provinces and Berar. 60.2 9.6 13.1
Assam 35.2 5.4 14.8
Burma 88.7 17.8 9.8