§ 5. Mr. BRACKENasked the Secretary of State for India whether be is now in a position to say whether the Government of India proposes to reinstate Mr. George Brenton Coward, who was charged with certain offences under Section 161 of the Indian Penal Code before the High Court judge at Nagpur on 7th February, 1930, and was acquitted in respect of all the charges brought against him; and whether, seeing that in consequence of these charges Mr. Coward has suffered financial losses, it is proposed to offer him any compensation?
§ Mr. BENNAs Mr. G. Brenton Coward was informed at the time, his memorial praying for reinstatement in the service of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway and for the grant of compensation was rejected in March last, after careful consideration by the Secretary of State for India in Council. Since then, in response to representations made to me on Mr. Coward's behalf, I have personally examined the papers relating to the case more than once, and I am satisfied that there is no ground for reconsideration of the decision taken.
§ Mr. BRACKENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Brenton Coward, by a criminal conspiracy, was tried before a court in India, a criminal conspiracy organised by well-known back benchers—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is giving information to the House.
§ Mr. BRACKENBut the Secretary of State's answer was so long that it was impossible for me to deal with it otherwise. He read out a long statement, and surely I might be allowed to put a further question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot discuss the matter at Question time.
§ Mr. BRACKENI beg to give notice that I will raise this question on Friday, on the Motion for the Adjournment.