§ SIR ROPER LETHBRIDGE (Kensington, N.)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether Her Majesty's Government intend to undertake an early inquiry into the Administration of India; and, if so, whether, considering the probable duration of the present Session, they will propose a Royal Commission, rather than a Parliamentary Committee; whether any, and what, measures will be taken to obtain a free and full expression of Native opinion; and, whether the inquiry will deal with the questions of the reorganisation of the Covenanted and Uncovenanted Civil Services, of extending the employment of Natives in the higher ranks of the Government Service, and of the annual migration of the Indian Governments to the hills?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)1475 Her Majesty's Government have not altered the intention which was originally expressed by the noble Lord now the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to propose the appointment of a small Committee of both Houses of Parliament; and this will be done next Session with substantially the same terms of reference as were proposed by the late Government to the late Parliament. The Committee, if appointed, will determine whether measures are to be taken, and, if so, what measures, to obtain a full and free expression of Native opinion. With reference to the last part of the Question, I can state that inquiry into the Civil Services is now taking place in India, which embraces all the matters to which the hon. Member refers.