§ 9. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for India whether the question of translating the Simon report into leading foreign and Indian languages was considered before the completion of the report; whether the Montagu-Chelmsford report and/or a summary of it was translated into the principal Indian languages; and whether any decision has been reached in the matter of translating the Simon report?
§ Mr. BENNThe answer to the first and third parts of the question is in the negative. I believe the answer to the second to be in the affirmative, but I have not complete information.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask when my right hon. Friend expects to reach a decision with reference to the last part of my question?
§ Mr. BENNThe Government of India have already communicated with the Provincial Governments on the matter.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWhat is preventing the translation of the report into foreign languages; into European languages, for example?
§ Mr. BENNI am not sure that that is so forward as the other matter, but it is forming the subject of correspondence.
§ Captain CROOKSHANKWhy on earth cannot the right hon. Gentleman decide on the publication? Surely it is a simple matter to translate a Parliamentary Paper.
§ Mr. BENNIt may be a simple matter to the hon. and gallant Member, but there are certain complications.