§ MR. NAOROJI (Finsbury, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether Sir Robert H. Davis's term of office as Member of the Council of India expires on the 3rd of March next; whether it is proposed to allow the vacancy to lapse in accordance with the terms of the Council of India Reduction 1260 Act of 1889, which provides that the Secretary of State may, if and whenever he thinks fit, permit the Council to be reduced to ten Members by absorbing vacancies as they occur; and, whether the Council at present consists of twelve Members?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERUnder the Act to which my hon. Friend refers, the Council of India has been reduced from fifteen to twelve members. I do not think that it would be to the public advantage to make any further reduction at present.