§ 4. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for India whether steps will be taken by the Government of India to limit the numbers of Indians taking a university course with the object of obtaining a degree, in view of the numbers of Indian graduates leaving the universities each year without any chance of obtaining suitable employment; and whether he will obtain a report on this matter from the French Colonial Office, which for some time has limited the output of college-trained men with regard to the employment available for them in the particular Colony?
§ Sir S. HOAREIt is for the authorities of the Indian universities and not 778 for Government to decide whether any limitation of the kind shall be imposed. I doubt whether the suggestion made by my hon. Friend in the second part of his question would serve any useful purpose.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there has been the same difficulty in French Colonies, and they have had considerable success in allaying discontent in the way suggested in the question? Does he know that there is a very considerable number of these Indian intelligentsia who have obtained a university degree and are without employment?
§ Sir S. HOAREThere are a great many universities in the world whose students are unable to find employment. If the hon. Member has any special information bearing upon the question, I shall be glad to receive it.
Duchess of ATHOLLDoes the right hon. Gentleman recollect that a recent committee of inquiry into the Punjab University stated that the main reason for the increase in unemployment among educated young men in India was a defective system of education, which required drastic remedies?
§ Sir S. HOAREEven so, I am not sure that whether the withdrawal of grants will have the effect my hon. Friend has in mind.