INDIAN CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM. (Hansard, 6 July 1933)

§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Sir Samuel Hoare)

I beg to move, That the Select Committee appointed to join with a Committee of the House of Lords on Indian Constitutional Reform have power, if they so determine, to appoint one or more sub-committees to take evidence or to consider any matters that may be referred to them. I move this Resolution at the request of the Members of the Joint Select Committee, and I can explain the reason for it in a few sentences. The Joint Select Committee is a very big Committee, composed of 32 Members of this House and another place. In addition to that, there are 28 Indian delegates sitting with them. We have found in the course of our proceedings that there is some of our work which might be effectively done by sub-committees. Under the Rules of the House no sub-committee can be appointed without an instruction from this House, and I think it is the general feeling of all the British members of the Committee, and the Indian delegates as well, that we ought to have this power and that, where we think fit, we ought to be able to form sub-committees. Hon. Members need have no anxiety on the subject. The main committee will keep full control of the proceedings and the sub-committees will have to report to the main committee. In any case where the sub-committees take evidence, it will be published as in the same way as if it were taken by the full committee. Therefore, there is nothing more in my proposal than a request that the Committee should be given this power in the interests of efficiency and also in the interest of speed. We have the advantage of the presence of a number of Indian delegates and Indian witnesses, and it is, therefore, obvious that the sooner we take the evidence of the Indian witnesses the more convenient it is 630 for them. They, naturally, do not wish to remain in England longer than is absolutely necessary. We believe that under this procedure, without in any way undermining the efficiency of the Committee, we shall be able to expedite our arrangements. I hope, therefore, with these few words of explanation the House will give the Committee the authority which I ask in the Resolution.