§ 30. Sir J. D. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the compromise whereby the creation of Executive Councils by Proclamation is subject to the right of presentation of an Address to the King by either House of Parliament within a fixed period was arrived at after deliberation and upon consideration of the different opinions held on this subject; and whether it is now proposed, because one House of Parliament has exercised this right, to amend the Indian Councils Act, which passed both Houses upon the condition that this right should be conceded?
Mr. ROBERTSThe arrangement regarding the creation of executive councils was arrived at because the then Secretary of State for India had no choice in the matter. With regard to the second part, I have nothing to add to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for North Somerset on 21st April.
§ Sir J. D. REESDoes the hon. Gentleman mean that the Secretary of State has no choice in the matter, or was the arrangement made as the result of a compromise between conflicting opinions?