§ 1. Mr. AMMONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the question of the separation of judicial from the executive functions in India is still being considered by His Majesty's Government and the Government of India; whether his attention has been drawn to the motion adopted by the Central Provinces Legislative Council recommending that immediate steps should be taken to give effect to this separation of functions and ordering the appropriation of Rs. 9,00,000 in this 1486 connection; whether, in view of the fact that this question has been engaging the attention of His Majesty's Government and the Government of India for the past 80 or 90 years and schemes to give effect to this separation have been worked out by the Government, he will state whether a decision has now been arrived at by the Government on this question; and if he will give the names of the local governments whose failure to forward their proposals to the Government of India has contributed to the long delay?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. My Noble Friend is at present in correspondence with the Government of India on this matter, and it is probable that the Government of India will have occasion before long to explain the position as the result of the correspondence. At present, I am not able to make any further statement.
§ Mr. AMMONDoes the Noble Lord realise that a similar answer has been given for at least 90 years, and can he give a promise that something will be done before this century has passed?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe question is really a very thorny one, and I do admit that the period of gestation has been somewhat long. I hope that something will be brought forward before the end of the present century.