§ 7. Mr. KINGasked whether before or after the appointment of the Delhi Town-planning Committee there were transferred from the Public Works Department to another department of the Government of India all matters referring to the laying out and design of the new Delhi; and, if so, whether the reasons for this course can be stated?
Mr. BAKERMatters connected with the creation of the new capital, including the acquisition and laying out of the site, have from the first been dealt with in the Home Department of the Government of India. It is the appointed department for dealing with questions which turn mainly on considerations of public policy and general administration.
§ 8. Mr. KINGasked whether the hon. Gentleman can give an assurance that in allocating sites for buildings in the new Delhi no special favours by granting free sites will be given to any religious body, but that all denominations and churches will be equally treated, and that a fair market price will be demanded in all cases for land required for religious objects?
Mr. BAKERThe answer is in the affirmative as regards churches, which under the rules in force the Government does not provide or help to build. Under the rules the Government provides churches for military stations and gives Grants-in-Aid in respect of churches at Civil stations. But ordinarily not more than one Protestant and one Roman Catholic church is provided at any station. When Government provides a church it also provides the land.
§ Sir JOHN JARDINEMay I ask that care will be taken not to perform anything like consecration over buildings handed over to one sect alone?