HC Deb 07 March 1933 vol 275 cc995-7
52. Mr. CHURCHILL

asked the Secretary of State for India whether a committee of Indians is being invited by the Government to participate, in a consultative capacity or otherwise, in the work of the Joint Committee of both Houses shortly to be set up; and whether he can assure the House that he will in no way prejudice, by the form of his invitations, the decision of either House of Parliament upon the method of consultation or the status of such Indian nominees in relation to the Joint Committee?

The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Sir Samuel Hoare)

Ever since the Simon Commission was first appointed successive Governments have, as has been constantly stated, had the intention of proposing that the Joint Select Committee set up to consider the proposals for the revision of the Indian Constitution should be given power to confer with Indian representatives. The Government therefore propose to ask Parliament to give the Committee this power. It will however be for the Committee alone to decide upon the manner in which effect is given to this arrangement. The second part of the question therefore does not arise.

Mr. CHURCHILL

Can my right hon. Friend say whether any invitations have yet been sent out?

Sir S. HOARE

No, Sir, no invitations in the sense of my right hon. Friend's question, but the Viceroy and I have bad some informal correspondence as to the Indians whom we might think would be useful to the Committee, but no commitments of any kind have been entered into which will embarrass the liberty of action of the Committee.

Sir W. DAVISON

Have the Government envisaged the exact nature of the consultation the Government have in mind in this matter?

Sir S. HOARE

I have just said that the Committee themselves will be the judge of the way in which the deliberations will be carried out.

Sir A. KNOX

Would it riot be much better to lay down the procedure first, and not put the onus upon the Committee to say what the procedure shall be and perhaps set them at variance with the Indians?

Sir S. HOARE

I should think that the House, in appointing a committee of this kind, would desire to leave liberty of action to its own representatives.

Lieut.-Commander AGNEW

Can my right hon. Friend say whether His Majesty's Government will have a majority of the representation on the Committee?

Sir S. HOARE

The hon. and gallant Member had better wait and see the Resolution under which the Committee will be selected by this House.

Mr. CHURCHILL

Are we to understand that the Joint Committee will be the judge of the method of conferring with the Indian representatives?

Sir S. HOARE

If my right hon. Friend will look at the answer I have just given, he will see that that is exactly what I have said they will do.

Mr. CHURCHILL

I am very glad indeed to hear that, but I do not think that it was clear.

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