Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for India whether in the forthcoming census the Indians in other parts of Asia than India, in Africa, and elsewhere will be counted; and whether due regard will be paid to the necessity for a comparative consideration of the economic conditions and cost of living in 1126W India, compared with the like conditions and cost in other Oriental and also in Occidental countries?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Indian Census has already been taken. Arrangements were made for collecting statistics of Indians in other parts of the British Empire, but not in foreign countries. Information regarding cost of living or economic conditions, except as regards occupations, was not collected at the census, and I do not think it would have been practicable to do so.