HC Deb 21 February 1938 vol 332 cc2-4
1. Sir Nairne Stewart Sandeman

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can supply the following information in respect of each prisoner whom the Governors of the United Provinces and Bihar have refused to release under the direction of the Governor-General; name; present age; under which section of the Indian Penal Code he was convicted; date of conviction; name of convicting court; previous convictions, if any, with particulars; sentence; and how far the offence was affected by political motives?

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Earl Winterton)

I will see that all relevant information regarding the prisoners in question is included in the White Paper which is being prepared on this subject.

5. Mr. Morgan Jones

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to make a fuller statement to the House as to the grounds for the decision of the Governors of Bihar and the United Provinces, on the instructions of the Viceroy, to refuse to issue certain orders passed by the ministries for the release of political prisoners?

6. Miss Wilkinson

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any further statement to make on the Indian situation in connection with the resignations of the ministers of Bihar and the United Provinces?

Earl Winterton

The Governor-General proposes to make a full statement, which will be issued to-morrow both in India and London, and will be made available to the House. In the meantime, my Noble Friend does not feel able to add anything to the information already given by me to the House.

Mr. Jones

Are any negotiations now in progress between the Viceroy on the one side and the Prime Ministers of the various Provincial Governments on the other with regard to this difficult situation?

Earl Winterton

I am sure the hon. Member will agree that we must not allow momentous events in this country to distract our attention from the fact that there is a delicate situation in India. I think it would be better to await the full statement which will be made by the Viceroy to-morrow.

Mr. Wedgwood Benn

Will the Noble Lord see that in this controversy the House is put in fullest possession of the views of the Ministers who have resigned?

Earl Winterton

I think the right hon. Gentleman could not have listened to my answer. I said that a White Paper would be published giving full information on the subject.

Miss Wilkinson

Can we have an assurance from the Noble Lord that, in view of the delicate situation to which he has called our attention, he will not further exacerbate that situation by speaking of "so-called political prisoners"?

Back to