§ 24. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he can assure the House that the Government of India, in meeting Amendments in Select Committee of the Imperial Legislative Council to the Bills giving effect to the recommendations of the Rowlatt Committee, will accept nothing that will in any way tend to weaken the measures considered necessary by that Committee?
§ Mr. FISHERBeyond their proposal to limit the Emergency Powers Bill to aduration of three years, the Secretary of State for India knows of no change in the views of the Government of India with regard to this legislation. They have, however, stated in the Legislative Council that they will endeavour to meet in Select Committee any reasonable Amendments that do not destroy the effectiveness of the measure. The Secretary of State for India considers that in this the Government have exercised a wise discretion.
§ Colonel YATEMay I ask whether it is not rather cowardly on the part of the Government of India to limit the Bill to three years?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is putting an argument.
§ Colonel YATEI will put down another question on the subject.