HC Deb 14 March 1932 vol 263 cc2-3
3. Mr. DAVID GRENFELL

asked the Secretary of State for India the present situation in regard to the disturbances in Burma?

Sir S. HOARE

The Government of Burma report that the past week has been uneventful, and nothing of importance has occurred.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House how many people have been sentenced to death in the past two months?

Sir S. HOARE

I think that the hon. Member has a question down on that subject. In any case, I answered it last week.

12. Lieut.-Colonel Sir MERVYN MANNINGHAM-BULLER

asked the Secretary of State for India on what date he intends to introduce legislation for the purpose of separating Burma from India?

16. Captain PETER MACDONALD

asked the Secretary of State for India on what date it is proposed to introduce the necessary legislation for the separation of Burma from India?

Sir S. HOARE

It is the intention to introduce legislation at the earliest practicable date after the decision of the people of Burma on the question of separation from India is made known in the light of the election to be held next autumn.

17. Mr. T. WILLIAMS

asked the Secretary of State for India how many persons have been executed in Burma since the commencement of the rebellion in December, 1930; and can any statement be made on the situation in Burma at the present time?

Sir S. HOARE

I would refer the hon. Member, as regards the first part of the question, to the answer given to the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Maclean) on the 9th March; and as regards the second part, to that already given to Question No. 3.

Mr. WILLIAMS

As this rebellion is largely due to sordid economic conditions, could not some other more humane method be found of solving the problem instead of executing people?

Sir S. HOARE

If the hon. Member will look at the table which I gave last week, he will see that great care has been exercised in scrutinising all death sentences, and that in only a small proportion of the death sentences has the sentence been carried out.