MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has received from India a reply to the memorial 337 against the Official Secrets Bill presented to the Secretary of State on the 12th of November last; and whether, in view of the objection taken to the Bill by Indians and Anglo-Indians, he is in a position to state that its provisions will be confined to the case of Naval and Military secrets.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOE INDIA (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey,) GuildfordI forwarded to the Government of India the memorial to which the hon. Member refers, but I have not received a reply. The Bill is now under consideration by a Select Committee, and if it is passed by the Legislative Council will be reported to me in due course with all the debates and discussions. I can meantime give no pledge that its provisions will be confined to Naval and Military secrets.