HC Deb 09 April 1935 vol 300 cc1113-5

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

10.27 p.m.

Viscount WOLMER

We are now entering on Part XIII which deals with the machinery for the transitional provisions. Some of the Clauses are very complicated and the drafting is somewhat difficult to follow. It would help us very much if the Secretary of State would indicate how he expects this part of the Bill will operate. I ask him to do this because this part of the Bill will probably be in operation, for a considerable number of years. I think the Government expects that it will be in operation for at least five years, while some of us believe that the period will be not less than 20 years. It is important that the Committee should realise how the Bill will function. If the right hon. Gentleman will indicate that, it might save time in the consideration of other Clauses, because we may have fewer questions to ask him.

10.28 p.m.

Sir S. HOARE

I at once respond to the invitation of my Noble Friend. Neither the Government nor myself have ever ventured on any prophecy as to the length of the transitional period. I have never been drawn into any prophecy about the time; what I have always said is that I want to see the transitional period as short as possible. Whether the transitional period be short or not, the position generally speaking is as follows: The only change made in the system of Indian government as it exists now will be the change made by the setting up of provincial autonomy, which will mean the introduction of this strictly delimited list of subjects between the Provinces and the Centre. That list will come into force, the autonomous Provinces in future being responsible for the subjects set out in the provincial list. That in itself, as my Noble Friend will see, will make a difference between the transitional period and the present system of government, which is a unitary system of government.

Apart, however, from the fact that the Provinces will be administering the provincial subjects and on that account the activities of the Central Government will be restricted, the present system of government at the Centre will continue, namely, the Governor-General and his Council and the Legislature dealing with the subjects that still remain central subjects. Further than that, there will, of course, be no change in the position of the Viceroy in the field of paramountcy. The effect of what I am saying is that we shall make substantially no change, except the changes involved in the Provinces becoming responsible for the Provincial subjects. I do not know whether in those few sentences I have made the position sufficiently clear, but, if I have not done so, perhaps my Noble Friend or some other hon. Member will ask further questions about it.

Viscount WOLMER

I would like to thank my right hon. Friend very much for the very lucid statement which he has given, but which does not answer all the points on which I have some doubt. Perhaps it will be more convenient to raise those points when we get to the particular Clauses.

Clause 291 ordered to stand part of the Bill.