§ Mr. THURTLE(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if it is in accordance with the advice of his Department that Opposition Members of Parliament who visit India are kept under police surveillance during the period of their stay in that country, and have reports of their speeches taken down by the police?.
§ Earl WINTERTONNo. Sir.
§ Mr. THURTLEIn view of that reply, will the Noble Lord use his influence with the Government of India to get this very disgraceful practice stopped?
§ Earl WINTERTONNo, Sir, my Noble Friend the Secretary of State for India would not feel himself entitled to interfere with the discretion of the Government of India in this matter. The Government of India are responsible for law and order within the country which they govern and, if in the exercise of their discretion they feel it necessary to take any particular action with regard to any particular person, they are entitled to do so.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask if the Noble Lord, in his very many years' experience in this House, has ever found it necessary in a British Possession to interfere with a Member of Parliament belonging to any party——
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not arise.