MR. HERBERT ROBERTSI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has given his approval to the Bill recently passed by the Burma 236 Legislative Council prohibiting the employment of women as barmaids in Burma; and whether it is now proposed to enact similar legislation in Bombay and other parts of India.
§ EARL PERCYMy right hon. friend the Secretary of State for India has requested me to say that he has not heard that the Bill referred to has yet been passed by the Burma Legislative Council. It follows, however, the principle of an Act passed last year by the Bengal Legislature, which is in operation. The hon. Member was informed by his predecessor, the Secretary of State for India, on the 6th of July last year, that, in the opinion of the Government of Bombay, legislation was not required in that Presidency, as the necessary control could be exercised by refusing licenses, and that the Government of India did not propose to press them to make any change in the law. No proposals to legislate in other provinces have been made.