HC Deb 14 December 1908 vol 198 cc1280-1
MR. G. GOOCH (Bath)

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he will reconsider his refusal to arrange for a statement to be made on Indian reforms in this House simultaneously with that made by the Secretary of State.

DR. RUTHERFORD (Middlesex, Brentford)

May I also ask the Prime Minister whether he will inform the House of the nature of the reform scheme for India?

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

And may I further ask the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the very general feeling of disapproval in this House that a statement of the policy of the Government in respect to India is to be made in the other House before the Members of this House have been placed in possession of the general features of that policy, he will consider the advisability or convenience in the public interest of making some arrangement whereby Government declarations on Government policy should be communicated in the future to this House of the elected representatives of the people before such communications have been made to the House of Lords?

MR. MACKARNESS

I beg further to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the financial and constitutional responsibility of this House for the government of India, he will allow the House to be made acquainted with the main features of the legislation to be proposed by His Majesty's Government for the better administration of that country.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fifeshire, E.

I am sorry to say that the statement of my noble friend Viscount Morley, owing to his indisposition, cannot in any case be made to-day. I hope, but I cannot at present say for certain, that it may be made some day in this week, and immediately after the statement the despatch containing a full explanation of the proposed reforms and other papers will be circulated to Members of this House. I will undertake that a statement shall be made in this House on the same evening.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Will there be an opportunity for discussion in this House?

MR. ASQUITH

No, Sir; not on that night.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Then the discussion will be in the other House only?

MR. ASQUITH

So far as I understand, there is not going to be a discussion in the other House.

MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)

Is it not possible to have the papers circulated before the statement is made?

MR. ASQUITH

I think the statement had better be made first.