§ Mr. THEODORE TAYLORasked the Under-Secretary for India what were the numbers of acres in British India planted with the opium poppy in the years, respectively, 1905–6, 1906–7, 1907–8, 1908–9, and 1909–10; and what was the net revenue to the Indian Government from opium production during the same years respectively.
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe area under opium was: In 1905–6, 613,996 acres; 1906–7, 564,585 acres; 1907–8, 488,548 acres; 1908–9, 427,000 acres; 1909–10, 350,000 acres. The figures for 1908–9 and 1909–10 are approximate. The net opium revenue was: In 1905–6, £3,572,944; in 1906–7, £3,743,773; in 1907–8, £3,571,948; in 1908–9, £4,654,113; in 1909–10, £4,420,600. These figures include receipts from pass duty on Malwa opium. These receipts amounted to £569,400 in 1905–6, £551,680 in 1906–7, £620,480 in 1907–8, £1,398,780 in 1908–9; for 1909–10 information is not yet available.
§ Mr. THEODORE TAYLORasked what is the present stock of opium ready for sale in the hands of the Indian Government, and what was the stock on 31st March of the years, respectively, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, and 1909; also what has been the average sale price per chest of the opium sold by the Indian Government during the years 1905–6, 1906–7, 1907–8, 1908–9, and 1909–10?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe stocks in question amounted to:—
On 31st March this year the stock may be approximately put at or below 40,000 chests. The average sale price has been:
69,762 chests in March 31st, 1905 76,062 chests in March 31st, 1906 72,013 chests in March 31st, 1907 61,232 chests in March 31st, 1908 55,333 chests in March 31st, 1909
R.1434 in 1905–6 R.1391 in 1906–7 R.1350 in 1907–8 R.1384 in 1908–9 R.1610 in 1909–10