HC Deb 11 March 1925 vol 181 cc1315-6
46. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Prime Minister whether Sir John Kerr has been appointed Deputy-Governor of Bengal; and, if so, why the Senior Executive Councillor, Sir Abdur Rahmin, was not appointed, in view of the general practice in such matters?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)

No "general practice" can be said to exist in respect of the administration of an Act which has only been a few months in operation. The right hon. Gentleman presumably has in mind the provisions relating to the filling of temporary vacancies, but these provisions have no application to the selection of substitutes for Governors proceeding on leave.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Is there anything in the Act passed last year authorising the change of practice which has been usual for 60 years? Has the Noble Lord a single precedent for the place of a Governor, who is not on the spot, being taken by anybody except the Vice-President or the Senior Executive Councillor?

Earl WINTERTON

The answer to the first part of the question is that the Act of last year could not possibly have altered a practice that did not exist: in other words, the Act of last year gave statutory authority to a condition of affairs that hail previously not existed in India. There can be no precedent at all for what is done under the Act in the filling of the vacancies which occur.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Does the Noble Lord suggest that the filling up of vacancies has never occurred in the past? Does he suggest that there has ever been any practice other than the one indicated in the question?

Earl WINTERTON

I say that the practice in regard to the filling of ordinary vacancies cannot be considered analogous to the Act passed last year. The situation which has arisen under that Act is that for the first time 'in the history of British India permission is given to the Secretary of Slate and the Governor-General to grant leave to Governors. This had never previously been allowed.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Are we importing into that Act a new principle which is permanently to be used in India?

Earl WINTERTON

No, Sir.