§ 6. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that Lord Meston and other lecturers are delivering lectures in Dublin, Aberdeen, and other university centres with the object of obtaining recruits for the Indian Civil Service; whether these lectures are organised on behalf of the Indian Government or the Secretary of State for India; and, if so, if he will state the estimated cost of such lectures and on what Estimate the expense is met?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe Lee Com mission recommended that "efforts should be made to stimulate recruitment by well-considered propaganda," In pursuance of this recommendation, my Noble Friend has invited certain gentlemen with distinguished Indian records to visit universities on his behalf, and has
| STATEMENT of number of men, women and children employed below ground in certain Provinces in India in 1923. (Average daily number.) | ||||||
| Province. | Adult Males. | Numbers employed below ground. | ||||
| Adult Females. | Children under 12 years of age.* | Total. | ||||
| Bengal | … | … | 18,075 | 9,941 | 51 | 28,067 |
| Bihar and Orissa | … | … | 42,548 | 28,266 | 354 | 71,168 |
| Central Provinces | … | … | 3,778 | 1,760 | 270 | 5,808 |
| NOTE.—(1) Thee figures include miners and others. | ||||||
| (2) The question refers to Bengal, Central India and Southern India. There are no coal mines of any importance further south than the Central Provinces. Bihar and Orissa is hardly "Central India," but the figures for this Province are included, as it contains the principal coal mines of India and is situated between Bengal and the Central Provinces. | ||||||
| *The employment of persons under the age of 13 years has now been prohibited, with effect from 1st July, 1924. |
§ 8. Mr. PALINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any children under the age of 13 years arc employed underground in the coal mines of Bengal, Central India, and Southern India; and, if so, how many?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe employment of children under 13 in mines has been prohibited, with effect from the 1st July, 1924?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the Noble Lord aware that children are still kept in the mines, if not working there, with their mothers?
§ arranged for informal discussions between university authorities and officials. The expenditure involved, which is confined to the refund of actual out-of-pocket expenses, is trifling in character, and is charged on the general revenues of India.