§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India in regard to the correspondence on the subject of Indian Army administration which has recently passed between His Majesty's Government and the Indian 617 Government, whether he will say if the subject matter of that correspondence has, so far as concerns the respective authority and responsibilities of the members of the Governor-General's Executive Council, been fully considered by the Council of India here, pursuant to the procedure prescribed in Sections 23 and 24 of the Statute (21 and 22 Vic.) of 1858; and will that correspondence, or its essential portions, be placed before both Houses of Parliament at an early date, together with any dissents that may have been recorded by members of the Councils of India.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BRODBICK, Surrey, Guildford)As I stated in answer to a Question on the 4th instant†, the subject of Indian Army administration is now under the consideration of His Majesty's Government. The provisions of the Act of Parliament mentioned in the hon. Member's Question, with regard to the Council of India have been and will be, as a matter of course, strictly observed. Papers will be presented to Parliament without avoidable delay, but I am unable at present to name any date for this.