HC Deb 24 October 1932 vol 269 cc576-7
2 and 3. Major MILNER

asked the Secretary of State for India (1) whether he can give the House and information as to the proposed resumption of the Indian Round-Table Conference;

(2) in what respect the personnel of the proposed third Round-Table Conference will be modified as compared with the previous conferences?

The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Sir Samuel Hoare)

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement which appeared in the Press yesterday and this morning.

Mr. MORGAN JONES

Are we to take it that Mr. Sastri has not been invited, or has he been invited and not been able to accept the invitation to the conference?

Sir S. HOARE

I cannot give an answer to that question offhand, but I will give the hon. Gentleman an answer either privately or if he puts down the question again.

Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOX

Can my right hon. Friend state whether the agenda of the Round-Table Conference will be made public, and whether the proceedings will be in camera or not?

Sir S. HOARE

Generally speaking, we shall work in private, and I do not think that it is in the least likely that we shall make the agenda public. There is no need in a conference of this kind for such formality.

Major MILNER

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how it comes about that Labour and women are not represented in the personnel of the Round-Table Conference, and whether there is a possibility of giving reconsideration to the personnel in those respects?

Sir S. HOARE

One of our difficulties has been to keep the numbers down to a reasonable limit, but it is true to say that the arrangements are not yet complete. The Government contemplate that certain interests, such as Labour and women, should have full opportunity of taking part in the Conference in all such questions which are held to affect them.

Mr. JONES

Are we to understand from that answer that there is to be a definite representative in person of Labour at the Conference?

Sir S. HOARE

Yes, certainly, that is what my answer is meant to imply.

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