HC Deb 04 December 1919 vol 122 cc768-9

  1. (1) The provision in Section six of the principal Act which prescribes the quorum for meetings of the Council of India shall cease to have effect, and the Secretary of State may provide for a quorum by such directions as he may issue in this behalf.
  2. (2) The provision in Section eight of the principal Act which requires weekly meetings of the Council of India shall cease to have effect.
  3. (3) Section ten of the principal Act shall have effect as though the words "all business of the council or committees thereof is to be transacted" were omitted, and the words "the business of the Secretary of State in Council or the Council of India shall be transacted, and any Order made or act done in accordance with such direction shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be treated as being an Order of the Secretary of State in Council" were inserted in lieu thereof.

The CHAIRMAN

The hon. and gallant Member for Melton has given notice to move to leave out Sub-sections (1), (2) and (3), which are all the operating words of the Clause.

Mr. MONTAGU

I would ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman not to move these Amendments. The object of this Clause is to make it possible to have a portfolio system or something approximating to it. It was the unanimous wish of the Joint Committee.

Colonel YATE

If a quorum of three out of twelve is fixed, and if one of the three is in favour of the view of the Secretary of State, he can overrule everything where there are only three present, as the Secretary of State has a casting vote. I think that is putting too much power in the bands of the Secretary of State, and I suggest that the present quorum should be allowed to remain.

Mr. MONTAGU

The Council would have a voice in deciding how to transact their business, and they are not likely to assent to the quorum my hon. and gallant Friend suggests.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.