Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Under-Secretary of State for India what revenue was derived by the Government of India in the last financial year from the production and sale of opium and opium products, including all dues levied in connection therewith; and what was the expenditure on the control of the production and sale and the collection of dues?
§ Mr. RICHARDSThe latest figures are for the year 1922–1923. In that year the revenue of the Government of India and Provincial Governments from the production and sale of opium was Rs.6,41,00,463, and from the sale of other drugs, Rs.51,698; the expenditure of the Government of India on the production of opium and its control was Rs.1,86,60,643; figures for the expenditure and control of distribution and collection of dues are not available, as these are included in the general charges for the collection of excise revenue; these amounted to Rs.1,28,79,921.