Mr. C. WILSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he 1581W is aware that a Committee consisting of officials and non-officials, after investigating the present conditions in Burma, has come to the conclusion that the drink habit is a considerable factor in causing the recent increase of crime in the province; and whether the Government have taken, or propose to take, any steps to ascertain the grounds for such a conclusion being arrived at?
§ Mr. RICHARDSYes, Sir. The grounds on which the Crime Inquiry Committee in Burma based their opinion as to the connection between drink and crime in the Province are clearly stated in their Report. No further inquiry therefore seems to be called for.
Mr. WILSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state which of the Native States have already decided upon prohibition of the drink traffic?
§ Mr. RICHARDSI have no official information that any Indian State has decided upon prohibition; but it was reported in the Indian newspapers last year that one State—Bhopal—had adopted this policy.