HC Deb 25 July 1927 vol 209 c820
1. Sir ROBERT THOMAS

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the social, political, and economic position of the depressed classes in India, numbering nearly 50,000,000, he will set up a Committee of Inquiry into the condition of this section of the populaton of India?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)

My Noble Friend does not regard the problem presented by the so-called "depressed classes" as being sufficiently distinguishable from the general economic, sociological and political problems of Indian administration as a whole to call for a special inquiry. It is clear that because of its relationship with the matters which I have just mentioned, the subject will come within the purview of the Statutory Commission on Indian Reforms.

Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMS

Is it not the case that our presence in India is the main cause of such improvement as has taken place in the condition of these depressed classes?

Earl WINTERTON

I certainly think that during the last 50 years there has been an improvement, and some sign of the solution of a very difficult problem.

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