HC Deb 12 March 1913 vol 50 cc252-3W
Mr. TOUCHE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what India balances were lent to approved borrowers in London on the 25th February?

Mr. HAROLD BAKER

The amount of loans from the India Office with approved borrowers on the 25th February, 1913, was £9,400,000, of which £8,400,000 was from Treasury balances, and £1,000,000 from the Gold Standard Reserve.

Mr. TOUCHE

asked whether the Government has declined to lend money to bankers on Indian Government securities to relieve the strain on the money market owing to the lock-up of opium in Chinese warehouses; and, if so, will he say when this refusal was announced on behalf of the Government?

Mr. BAKER

The Secretary of State has seen in the newspapers a statement that an announcement to the effect mentioned was made in the Governor- General's Legislative Council on the 25th ultimo. He has no further information on the subject.