§ 10. Brigadier-General CHARTERISasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether all miscellaneous and specialist officers whose posts it has been decided to treat as superior have been informed of the decision; what is the total number of officers affected; and whether the list of names will be published?
§ Earl WINTERTONDecisions on nearly all these cases were communicated on 5th January to the Government of India, who will no doubt lose no time in conveying them to local Governments for communication to the officers concerned. The number of officers affected is approximately 170. My Noble Friend does not consider publication in the ordinary sense to be necessary, but a list of names of beneficiaries has been prepared and a copy will be sent to any hon. Member who wishes to have one.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEIs there a further list to come, or is this list of 170 complete?
§ Earl WINTERTONI could not answer that question without notice. This was a provisional list communicated to hon. Members, but it was not intended that it should be made public until a final decision has been come to.
§ Brigadier-General CHARTERISWill the Noble Lord reconsider the question of publication, as certain officers on leave in England are unlikely to hear for several weeks and in fact are asking hon. Members what the result is?
§ Earl WINTERTONCertainly I will consider the question of publication, but this is only a provisional list which was communicated to certain hon. Members in order to give an indication of the sort of case which would probably be finally accepted. Until all the cases are accepted, I cannot undertake to communicate the list to anyone except Members of the House.