§ 4. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the views of the Government of India, which are to be taken into account by His Majesty's Government before any action is taken on the Hilton Young Report, still remain the same as they 4 were at the time of the Wood-Winterton agreement on the question of the common roll as against a communal roll of electors?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe Government of India have not yet formulated their views on the recommendations of the Report.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask whether the Government of India are considering this Report from that point of view, and whether the point of view taken by the Viceroy and by the Secretary of State at the time of the Wood-Winterton agreement is still the opinion of the Government of India?
§ Earl WINTERTONI think the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will realise that it is quite impossible for me to answer this question until, as I say, the Government of India have formulated their views on the Report. They are considering the matter.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODSurely the Noble Lord can say whether there has been a change of view on the part of the India Office?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe right hon. and gallant Gentleman asks me whether the views of the Government of India are the same as they were at the time of the Wood-Winterton agreement, and I reply that the Government of India have not yet formulated their views. They are considering them at this time.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODBut do they support the idea of a common roll as opposed to a communal roll?
§ Earl WINTERTONIf the Government of India have not yet formulated their views, it is impossible for me to say.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIt has formulated them.