§ Mr. HART-DAVIESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the India Office has received a Report from the Government of India on the subject of the provincial engineers; and whether it is proposed to withdraw the Orders contained in Circular Letter, No. 9978, dated 6th June, 1908, from the Government of India?
The MASTER of ELI BANKThe Secretary of State is still awaiting the recommendations of the Government of India on the subject of the position of the provincial engineers in the Indian Public Works Department. He is unable to state what action the Government of India propose to take with regard to the Orders referred to.
§ Mr. HART-DAVIESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State has received copies of the recent recommendations and opinions of the local governments on the subject of the employment of the provincial engineers; and whether such Reports can be communicated to the House?
The MASTER of ELIBANKUntil the Secretary of State has received the recommendations of the Government of India, he cannot consider the question of presenting Papers to the House.
§ Mr. HART-DAVIESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether engineers trained in Indian colleges have been placed in Imperial service appointments since the Public Service Commission made their Report and Orders were passed on it; and whether there is any reason why these precedents should not be followed in the case of other Indian-trained engineers?
The MASTER of ELIBANKThe Secretary of State is not aware of any cases of officers who entered the Indian colleges since the issue of the Orders based on the Public Service Commission Report having received appointments in the Imperial Service of the Indian Public Works Department, though there no doubt are cases 2459W of officers who had previously passed through the colleges or were in them at the time having received such appointments since the Public Service Commission made their Report. As at present advised, he does not propose to make any change in the existing system.
§ Mr. HART-DAVIESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the standard of training in the Indian engineering colleges is quite equal to the professional training imparted in England; and, considering that the provincial and Imperial service engineers perform the same duties in many cases and have the same responsibilities, he will consider the advisability of opening Imperial service appointments to provincial engineers and thus abolishing the present distinction between Europeans and Indians in the Public Works Department?
The MASTER of ELI BANKThe question of the position of the provincial engineers in the Public Works Department is now receiving the attention of the Government of India, and, as I have informed the hon. Member in reply to another question, the Secretary of State is expecting to receive the recommendations of the Government of India on the subject. In the meanwhile he would prefer not to make any statement on the subject.