10. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India 7 whether the chief commissioner of the North-West frontier province of India is responsible for the administration and for the maintenance of law and order in the tribal territory stretching from the administrative boundary of the province up to the Durand line; whether a Report on the administration of the North-West province for the year 1927–28 has been recently published; whether the question of extending the Durand line to the frontier of Afghanistan is being considered; and whether he will say what was the object of the stay that the Foreign Secretary of the Government of India recently made of some weeks at Bannu?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the negative. The control exercised in the area in question is political and not administrative. The latest Report on the administration of the North-West Frontier Province received in this country is that for 1926–27. The Durand Line is itself the frontier of Afghanistan. My Noble Friend has no information regarding the last part of the question, but presumes that the Foreign Secretary visited Bannu in the ordinary course of his official duties.
§ Earl WINTERTONYes, I will do so. I was under the impression that the last one was placed there. I think it is not a confidential Report in any way, and, if I am correct in my recollection, I will certainly have a copy placed in the Library.