HC Deb 01 July 1943 vol 390 cc1774-6
64. Mr. Silverman

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that reports of whipping for offences arising out of or in connection with political disturbances show that in three districts of Sindh alone 800 such penalties have been inflicted during the past three months; and whether he will publish the full records of penalties of whipping inflicted in British India during the past year?

Mr. Amery

I have no information about canings in Sind in the past three months. If the hon. Member will communicate to me the source of his information, I will make inquiries. Collected statistics for British India are not available and I would not feel justified in asking that Provincial Governments should undertake in present circumstances to supply them.

Mr. Silverman

In view of the fact that my right hon. Friend stated in March last that the figures for these sentences in all India were 958, are we to assume from the figures he has now given that sentences of this kind have vastly increased during the last few months?

Mr. Amery

No, Sir. Those were figures in connection with an outbreak of murderous violence last autumn. I am glad to say that that outbreak has ceased, and I have no reason to suppose that there have been numerous sentences of that kind in India as a whole. The Question of the hon. Member referred to Sind, where there was martial law owing to another outbreak. Martial law has been suspended since 1st June. I have no further figures in regard to Sind.

Earl Winterton

Will my right hon. Friend be good enough to make the constitutional position clear in this matter? Surely under the Government of India Act he is not responsible for law and order, except where there is military control. Has there been any alteration in the practice of his predecessors, who said that these were matters for the Provincial Governments?

Mr. Amery

I am much obliged to my noble Friend for his question. The original Question referred to Sind, which in these matters is self-governing. Martial law was however imposed in Sind and to that extent I felt justified in dealing with the question.

Mr. Silverman

Is it the view of the right hon. Gentleman that if sentences of this kind increased enormously all over India, that would be a matter in which the India Office would have no interest at all?

Mr. Amery

Constitutionally, this is a matter left in the hands of the self-governing Provinces and no longer one for question and answer in this House.

Earl Winterton

I am sorry to have to raise the same matter again, but I think I shall have to make it a point of Order. It has been the practice for years in this House to say that it is not in Order to answer Questions which come within the complete purview of the Provincial Governments. Will my right hon. Friend say whether that is the position to-day? It was not clear from his answer.

Mr. Amery

Yes, Sir, that is entirely the general position, with regard to Provinces enjoying self-government; but, in so far as matters have been affected by special causes like martial law, or by Rules under the Defence of India Act, or like the disturbances last autumn, I felt that I could not very well refuse to answer.

65. Mr. Dobbie

asked the Secretary of State for India how many protests from Indian persons or organisations the Governor-General of India has received in regard to the whipping of Indians arrested in connection with political agitation?

Mr. Amery

I have no information.

Mr. Dobbie

Have any steps been taken to bring to an end this abominable practice?

Mr. Amery

I have answered this Question very fully on previous occasions.

66. Mr. Riley

asked the Secretary of State for India how many young people under 21 years of age have been punished by whipping during the past 12 months; how many of these were under 16 years; and how many girls and young women are in prison, or under detention, for political offences?

Mr. Amery

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on 20th May.

Mr. Sorensen

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that that reply was no reply, as it gave no information at all?

Mr. Amery

That depends upon the character of the reply.

Mr. Riley

Are these cases reviewed from time to time as to the numbers who are imprisoned and who have been subjected to this treatment?

Mr. Amery

I am afraid I did not catch the hon. Member's question.

Mr. Riley

I asked whether cases were reviewed from time to time or whether there is no review whatever.

Mr. Amery

As I have already pointed out, there is no occasion for me to inaugurate reviews of matters which are within the competence of Provincial Governments.

Mr. Sorensen

Has not the right hon. Gentleman a moral responsibility to stop these whippings?