HC Deb 17 November 1930 vol 245 cc7-8
7. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Secretary of State for India what documents relating to the Indian Round-Table Conference will be made available for Members as Parliamentary Papers; and when they will be laid?

Mr. BENN

The reports of the Indian Statutory Commission and of the Indian Central Committee, and also the Dispatch of the Government of India on proposals for Constitutional Reform have already been presented to Parliament. The views of the Provincial Governments on the Indian Statutory Commission's recommendations have been presented and will be available to Members this evening.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Do I understand from that answer that these are the only documents that my right hon. Friend expects will be laid, and may I ask him, in particular, whether there was any dispatch from the Government of India of what is known as the Butler Committee, and will it be available to the House?

Mr. BENN

It is our desire to give all the information that the House desires to have. I cannot say whether it is the final list, but I should imagine not.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Will my right hon. Friend be good enough to say whether there was a dispatch on the Butler Committee, and will it be possible to lay the Papers?

Mr. BENN

I cannot answer that question without notice.

Earl WINTERTON

If His Majesty's Government should think fit at any time to make proposals for the future government of India at the Conference, will he lay those proposals before Parliament?

Mr. BENN

I cannot give a general pledge of that kind here at the moment. My desire is to give all the information that the House desires to have.

13. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has yet decided if the full correspondence regarding the peace efforts of Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and Mr. Jayakar with certain Congress leaders and His Excellency the Viceroy can be published as a Parliamentary Paper?

Mr. BENN

Yes, Sir. It will be presented very shortly.

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