§ 44. Miss RATHBONEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state whether any steps have been taken by any of the local governments to carry out the administrative measures recommended over four years ago by the Age of Consent Committee as essential for the effective administration of legislation in restraint of child marriage; and whether, in view of the fact 2586 that the Sarda Child Marriage Restraint Act has now been nominally in force for three years and three months and is widely disregarded, he will take steps to secure from the Government of India a Report upon the question of what steps should be taken to secure the enforcement and, if necessary, the strengthening by amendment of the Act?
§ Sir V. WARRENDERMy right hon. Friend has not yet received the information for which he has asked regarding the administrative steps taken by local governments to give effect to the recommendations of the Age of Consent Committee. The whole question is under the consideration of the Government of India.
§ Miss RATHBONEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this is the eleventh time spread over three years and three months on which I have put this question, and that the reply has invariably been that inquiries will be made in India? Will he represent to the Secretary of State the desirability of speeding up the reply, and will he also ask the Secretary of State whether he considers, in view of the fact that the Sarda Act was passed into law with the full consent and cordial sympathy of the Government, that the delay is likely to produce respect for law and order in India?