§ 9. Miss RATHBONEasked the Secretary of State for India if he will endeavour to expedite the replies of the local Governments to the inquiries addressed to them by the Government of India concerning the measures proposed to facilitate the enforcement of the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1928, in view of the fact that the Act is now about to come into operation?
§ Mr. BENNI can assure my hon. Friend that the Governments in India are fully alive to the importance of the matter.
§ Miss RATHBONEWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us a little more in view of the fact that the Child Marriage Act is about to become operative, and that it is over six months since the report of the Age of Consent Committee was published. As that Report is of a most important character, the opinion of women who believe in reform in this matter is exacerbated by what they regard as the supineness of the Central Government on the subject.
§ Mr. BENNI can assure the hon. Lady that there has been no supineness on the part of the Government of India in this matter. It is primarily a matter for them, and I have no doubt of their good faith in regard to it.
Earl WINTERTONIs it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to give us more information on this question in which great interest is taken in all parts of the House? Does he realise that if he makes regulations the Local Government will have to see that they are strictly and rigidly put into operation?
§ Mr. BENNThat is not the question on the Paper. If the Noble Lord wishes for information as to what is occurring, I shall be glad to get it.
§ Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that infants as soon as they are born are being married at the present time in order to avoid the Act?