§ Sir J. D. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the liquor bill for the British-Indian Empire and at how much per head the figure works out for the latest year for which statistics are available; and whether he will give the 1653W like information, if it is obtainable without undue research and trouble, for compounds and derivatives of opium, cocaine, and drugs of a similar character?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe taxation receipts under Excise in 1910–11 amounted to £7,030,314, distributed in round numbers as follow: From foreign liquor and liquor made in India by European methods, £300,000; country spirits, £3,700,000; Toddy and pachwai, £1,200,000; opium and other drugs, £1,800,000; fines, etc., £30,000. There are no reliable data from which the consumers' total disbursements on account of liquor and drugs can be computed with any accuracy, but on a conjectural estimate they might be put at about £10,000,000, or 10d. per head of the population of British India.