§ SIR W. PLOWDEN (Wolverhampton, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether any reports 'have been sent in by the Local Governments in India in regard to improving and extending the Local Councils within provincial limits; whether in any instances these reports recognise the propriety of admitting the representative element in these Councils; and whether the Secretary of State will lay these reports upon the Table of the House?
§ THE UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) ChathamThe Secretary of State has received copies of communications which have passed between the Government of India and the Home Government with reference to the Local Councils. These communications are of a confidential character, and the Secretary of State cannot at present lay them on the Table.
§ MK. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the communications have been approved of, and whether the recommendations which have been made in regard to them are of a confidential character?
§ SIR W. PLOWDENBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers that question may I ask him to answer the second paragraph of my question?
§ SIR J. GORSTIt is obvious that to answer paragraph No. 2 would be stating the contents of a confidential document.
§ MR.BRADLAUGHHave any of these reports been forwarded through Lord Dufferin, and are Lord Dafferin's recommendations in regard to them considered confidential by the Government?
§ SIR J. GORSTNo, Sir; the reports were not forwarded to Lord Dufferin.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHMay I ask if some of the reports were not forwarded through Lord Dufferin?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!