§ 2. Mr. W. BAKERasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will state the number of cases in which representations have been made by the Government of India to Indian rulers in respect of forced labour in their States?
§ Earl WINTERTONI cannot say what representations, if any, may have been made in the past. In connection with the Slavery Convention recently signed at Geneva, which the hon. Member may have in mind, an undertaking was given that the Government of India would bring to the notice of the rulers of the Indian States the provisions of the Convention, which included provisions intended to prevent forced labour from developing into conditions akin to slavery. The Government of India will no doubt wait until the Convention has been ratified before taking this action.