79. Sir HERBERT ROBERTSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1) whether any local government has found it possible to take action extending the functions of excise advisory committees beyond that of merely considering the number and sites of shops, as suggested in paragraph 6 of the Dispatch of the Secretary of State for India, dated 29th May, 1914; and (2) whether approval and publicity has been given by any local government to the suggestion that special areas could be kept altogether immune from the sale of intoxicants in which it seemed to be desirable and likely to be in consonance with the wishes of the inhabitants, as set forth in paragraph 6 of the Dispatch of the Secretary of State for India, dated 29th May, 1914?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSNo information has yet been received as to action taken by local Governments on the suggestions referred to, but the Government of India have instructed local Governments to report on the subject in the Provincil Excise or General Administration Reports for 1914–15.