§ Wing-Commander R. Robinsonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma whether the survey of the rice milling position in Burma has now been completed; and what extra milling machinery is required in order to bring the Burmese rice industry into full operation.
§ Mr. A. HendersonOn receiving the hon. and gallant Member's inquiry I called for a report from the Government of Burma who tell me that the completed survey of the rice milling position shows36W and the principal heads under which it is incurred.
§ Mr. A. HendersonSince their return to Rangoon the Government of Burma have been engaged in preparing estimates of the cost of the civil administration of Burma for the financial year from 1st October, 1945, to 30th September, 1946. These estimates are not yet complete and only very tentative figures are at present available. The latter show recurrent expenditure for the year on Government administration as£ 7,840,000 and Revenue receipts as£ 4,440,000. Provision for a loan to meet the realised deficit together with substantial capital expenditure which is likely to be incurred on the rehabilitation of Government services, industry and agriculture will be included in the Estimates for India and Burma Services for 1946 which will be submitted to Parliament shortly.
The following are the figures in answer to the last part of the Question:
that their milling power is adequate to handle the crop now coming on the market which is estimated to be approximately half the prewar figure.