§ 8. Mr. CECIL WILSONasked the Secretary of State for India whether the Committee appointed in July, 1927, to 882 examine the position with regard to opium in the Malwa States has presented its Report; whether the Government of India has taken any decisions arising out of that Report; and whether the Report will be published?
§ Mr. BENNThe Committee has reported. No decisions have yet been taken. The question of publishing the Report has not yet been considered.
§ 9. Mr. WILSONasked the Secretary of State for India whether all the Committees appointed in the Autumn of 1927 by five Provincial Governments to inquire into the high consumption of opium in certain areas have presented their Reports; whether the local Government which arranged to make a similar inquiry has presented its Report; what action the Government of India has taken or proposes to take upon the Reports; when Reports not yet presented may be expected; and whether all the Reports are to be published?
§ Mr. BENNFour of the six inquiries have been completed. As soon as the remaining two are finished the Government of India propose to convene a Conference to collate and compare the results obtained before the Local Governments pass orders. The publication of each Report is a matter for the Local Government concerned. The Bengal Report has been published.