§ 2. Mr. Lansburyasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State will advise the Viceroy to summon the provincial legislatures to meet as soon as possible, so as to ensure that this House will be in Session during the first weeks these parliaments are meeting?
Lord StanleyAs has been stated previously, my Noble Friend regards the decision as to the appropriate time to summon the Legislature of a province as essentially one for the Governor of the province to take, in the light of all the local circumstances.
§ Mr. LansburyI beg to give notice, Mr. Speaker, that with your consent I shall call attention to this question on the Adjournment to-night.
§ 3. Mr. T. Williamsasked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many provincial assemblies have been summoned to meet by the various Governors in India; and how many governments have been formed by minority parties in the Provinces?
Lord StanleyThe Legislatures of the five provinces of Bengal, the Punjab, the North-West Frontier Province, Assam and Sind, in which the Congress did not secure a majority, met for the first time on various dates in April. Minority Governments have been formed in the remaining six provinces.
§ Mr. WilliamsCan the Noble Lord say w hen these provincial governments will be summoned?
Lord StanleyThe hon. Member knows that they have to be summoned within six months from the 1st April. I think the point will come up on the Adjournment.
§ Mr. WilliamsIs it the intention of the Governors to summon these Assemblies before this House adjourns at the end of July?
§ Mr. Wedgwood BennDid I understand the Noble Lord to say that there had been no conference between the Viceroy and the Provincial Governors as to summoning these Assemblies?
§ Mr. BennThen why did the Noble Lord say that it was a matter to be decided by the Provincial Governors?