HC Deb 14 November 1911 vol 31 cc173-4
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the civil action recently decided against Mr. Weston and two police officers arose out of an abortive charge of criminal conspiracy instituted on the advice of those officers against a large number of British subjects in Midnapur; what was the cost of those criminal proceedings, and by whom were they paid; whether he is aware of the comments of the judges who presided in both the criminal and the civil court upon the conduct of the magistrate and police officers; whether any compensation has yet been paid either to those unjustly charged in the criminal proceedings or to the plaintiff in the civil suit; and, if not, whether the Secretary of State will recommend that this be done before further public money is placed at the disposal of the police officers for the purposes of appeal?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes." To the second, the cost of the criminal proceedings falls on Bengal Revenues; their amount has not been reported to the Secretary of State. To the third, "Yes." As my hon. Friend is well aware, the civil case is still sub-judice, and for this reason I must decline to answer the fourth and fifth parts of his question, but would take the opportunity of deprecating the asking of questions, or the drawing of inferences, which are likely to prejudice the hearing of the case.

Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

Have the Government of India spent about £30,000 in trying to defeat the claim of those natives who have already in the criminal proceedings been found not guilty?

Mr. MONTAGU

I cannot add to the answer I have just given, and I very much regret that my hon. Friend persists in the matter.

Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

Arising out of that answer may I ask whether an appeal in the civil proceedings has been advised by the Governor of Bengal, and is he the same Governor, the conferring of promotion upon—

Mr. SPEAKER

Order, order. The hon. Gentleman must put that question on the Paper.