§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
§ Mr. Godfrey Nicholson (Farnham)Will the Secretary of State say a word on this Clause?
§ The Secretary of State for India (Mr. Amery)This is with reference to the number of my advisers. When the India Act of 1935 was passed, the former Council of India, which consisted of not more than 12 Members, was succeeded by a body of advisers and, as it was known that Federation would come about very soon, it was not considered necessary to alter their number. As a matter of fact during this war, owing to the difficulty of getting from India to this country, and also owing to war work, it was sometimes very difficult to get the minimum number of advisers together and, though there is no immediate question of changing the number, it is thought convenient that the 1779 minimum should be reduced from eight to five.
Question put, and agreed to.
Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.