HC Deb 16 March 1891 vol 351 cc1044-5
SIR G. CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India if it is true, as stated in the Times of 11th March, that the Secretary of State has intimated to the Indian Government that certain parts of the Factory Bill, submitted by them to the Indian Legislative Council— Would be contrary to pledges given in the Imperial Parliament, and could not be accepted; if so, when and to whom those pledges were given; (2) whether, since the Despatches of May and July, 1890, the Secretary of State has been in further communication with the Viceroy regarding the Factory Act; and (3) whether, now that the communications have resulted in a Bill, he will lay the further Correspondence upon the Table?

*THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) Chatham

In answer to the first paragraph of the hon. Member's question, I have to say that the statements made in Parliament by the First Lord of the Treasury regarding the Indian Factory Bill, which are, I presume, referred to in the question, have not formed the subject of communication by the Secretary of State to the Government of India. The answer to the second paragraph is in the affirmative. The reply to the third paragraph is that the presentation of further correspondence will be considered by the Secretary of State as soon as the new Indian Factory Act is received.

SIR G. CAMPBELL

In regard to the reply of the right hon. Gentleman to the first part of the question, may I point out that the Under Secretary has given me an answer to a question which I did not ask, while he has not answered the question which I did ask? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, as stated in the Times of the 11th of March, that the Secretary of State has intimated to the Indian Government that certain parts of the Factory Bill, submitted by them to the Indian Legislative Council, is contrary to pledges given in the Imperial Parliament, and cannot be accepted; and, if so, when, and to whom those pledges were given?

*SIR J. GORST

The hon. Member, I presume, has-been in his place in this House, and must have heard the answers of the First Lord of the Treasury to the various Members who have put questions to him, and he must therefore know whether any pledges have been given. I have said that there has been no correspondence between the Secretary of State and the Government of India in reference to any pledges which have been given in the Imperial Parliament.

SIR G. CAMPBELL

Is it true, as stated in the Times, that certain parts of the Bill submitted to the Indian Council are contrary to the pledges given in the Imperial Parliament? I ask whether that is true or is not true?

[No answer was returned.]

SIR G. CAMPBELL

I beg to give notice that I will put the question down for to-morrow.