§ 5. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, although in the Prime Minister's letter to Lord Lothian one of the special matters before the Indian franchise committee is mentioned as the settlement of 1253 the question of labour representation in the proposed constitution, there is no representative of Indian labour among the Indian members of the committee whether, since the announcement of the personnel of the committee, any steps have been taken to repair this omission and whether the interests of Indian labour are represented among the members of the provincial committees set up to assist the franchise committee during its investigation in the different provinces?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe hon. Member will have noticed that a representative of organised labour has just been appointed to the franchise committee. I feel sure that the interests of labour will not be overlooked in the selection of the members of the various provincial franchise committees, but I have not yet received their names.
§ Mr. GRENFELLCan the right hon. Gentleman give the name of the representative who has been appointed?
§ Sir S. HOAREYes, Mr. Bakhale.
§ Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXCan the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion the total organised labour bears to the whole population?
§ Sir S. HOAREI cannot without notice.
§ 7. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for India whether, in the absence of a voluntary settlement between the communities concerned of the question of the distribution of seats in the proposed provincial and federal Legislatures, and in order to faciltiate the work of the Indian Franchise Committee, it is the intention of the Government to inane an early announcement of its decision on this question?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am not at present prepared to add anything to what was said on the subject by the Prime Minister in his statement at the close of the last session of the Conference, and in his letter to the chairman of the Franchise Committee.