§ LORD CLWYD rose to ask His Majesty's Government whether it is their intention to submit a Motion to both Houses of Parliament this Session for the appointment of the Standing Joint Committee on Indian affairs. The noble Lord said: My Lords, this is a Motion which I have put on the Paper at the beginning of every Session since the provision was made in regard to the appointment of a Committee, and as a 394 matter of fact the Standing Joint Committee has been set up every Session up to the present time. It is true that last year no questions were submitted to the Committee, but I think there will be a general concurrence of opinion that, whether or not there are any questions to submit to the Committee, it is desirable every Session that the machinery of the Committee should be put in motion and that the Committee should be appointed.
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There is one other consideration which has at this time, I think, a somewhat direct bearing on the appointment of the Committee, and that refers to the Simon Commission which is now taking evidence in India. The predecessor of the noble Viscount opposite, Lord Birkenhead, on November 8, 1927, made the following statement in this House with regard to the relation between the Report of the Simon Commission and the Standing Joint Committee. He said:—
When the Commission has reported, and its Report has been examined by the Government of India and His Majesty's Government, it will be the duty of the latter to present proposals to Parliament. But it is not the intention of His Majesty's Government to ask Parliament to adopt these proposals without first giving a full opportunity for Indian opinion of different schools to contribute its view upon them, and to this end it is intended to invite Parliament to refer these proposals——
that is, the recommendations, whatever they may be, of the Simon Commission—
to consideration by a Joint Committee of both Houses…
§ Lord Birkenhead went on to suggest a further procedure, which may of course have required modification in view of what has subsequently taken place in regard to the procedure of the Commission in India. But, however that may be, I feel certain that there is no alteration in the view of the Government, in regard to that intention to submit the Report of this very important Commission to the Standing Joint Committee when that Report is available for consideration. It is, of course, true that we cannot expect the Report of the Simon Commission until next autumn, and many things may happen between now and then. At the same time, I think there is no argument for not setting up the Standing Joint Committee this Session as developments may at any time take place which will render it 395 desirable that that Committee should be in being to consider questions submitted to them.
§ There is only one further observation which I should like to make, and it is this. After a somewhat lengthy Parliamentary experience I have sometimes held the view that the principle of this Standing Joint Committee could very usefully be extended to other public Departments and particularly to the Colonial Office. In my view this is a development which at all events deserves the early consideration of Parliament. I have only mentioned that in order to explain my personal concern that nothing should take place to prevent this experiment in relation to the examination of Indian affairs by a Standing Joint Committee of both Houses having a full and fair trial, and I therefore hope that the Secretary of State for India will be able to give my Question to-day art affirmative reply.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (VISCOUNT PEEL)My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Lord for reminding me of this question. I may say that I am entirely in agreement with him as to the wisdom and necessity of reappointing the Standing Joint Committee, and it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to put down a Motion on the subject. I should have put down a Motion already only there have been some little delays in connection with the personnel of the Committee, but I will put down a Motion on the subject without further delay. Perhaps the noble Lord will excuse me from answering his question about the Colonial Office. I do not wish to trespass on my right hon. friend's domain.