1. Sir J. D. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether a Committee has been appointed by the Government of India to report upon the position of the frontier province and its relation, present and future, with the Punjab; and, if so, what are the terms of the reference?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Wintertan)I have seen reports of debates in the Legislative Assembly which indicate an intention to appoint a Committee to inquire into various matters connected with the administration of the North-West Frontier Province, including its relations with the Punjab, but, so far as I am aware, the Committee has not yet been appointed, nor have the terms of reference to it been settled.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the Noble Lord aware that at the present time the North-West Frontier Province is the only province where there is no sort of constitution and no self-government? Will he take steps to see that an end is put to that anomaly?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have said that a Committee has been appointed to inquire into that matter.
§ Colonel Sir C. YATEWill the Noble Lord impress on his advisers the necessity for insisting that there shall be no interference with the settlement of frontier disputes by Jirga and also the inadvisa- 1135 bility of inflicting a Legislative Council on the Province, for which it is at present unsuited.
§ Earl WINTERTONMy hon. and gallant Friend had better wait until the Committee dealing with the matter has reported.