§ 11. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for India what has been the result of his communication to the Government of India regarding the grant of assistance to the various rural leagues and working-class organisations in India to depute representatives to give evidence before the Joint Select Committee on the Government of India Bill; and how many of these representatives are to be allowed to come?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Government of India have replied that they have received no applications for pecuniary assistance from persons or bodies desirous of deputing representatives to appear before the Joint Select Committee but unable to do so at their own expense, and that they did not consider that in the circumstances the offer of subventions would produce a useful result. 'The Joint Committee have now closed their public sittings.
§ 18. Mr. CAIRNSasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists in Burma with the scheme for constitutional reforms put forward by Sir R. Craddock, the Lieutenant-Governor; whether the Burmese people by means of a memorial have put forward an alternative scheme of reforms; and whether he will reconsider the exclusion of Burma from that scheme of reforms proposed in the Government of India Bill?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI am aware that Sir Reginald Craddock's scheme which he put forward for criticism in December last has met with disapproval by some critics and that a deputation which appeared before the Government Committee on the Bill put forward an alternative scheme. It will be for the Committee to recommend to Parliament what course they consider desirable in the matter of making provision for Burma in the Bill.