§ Sir C. YATEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he has received a copy of the address presented to His Excellency the Viceroy by the All India Viswakarman Liberal Federation, a community said to number over 30,000,000 of the handicrafts men and artisan classes of India, praying for representation on the Legislative Assembly and provincial councils from which they are debarred at present by the higher classes whom they term the narrow educated minority; and what steps are being taken to give the artisan class of India the representation in the various local government bodies and councils that they desire?
§ Mr. RICHARDSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Pending the completion of the inquiry now proceeding into the working of the present constitution, it would be premature to make any statement in reply to the second part of the question.
§ Sir C. YATEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the percentage of lawyers, including barristers, pleaders and bakils, in the Indian Legislative Assembly and the various provincial councils, respectively; and if the information is not available here. will he obtain it from India?
§ Mr. RICHARDSI am asking the Government of India to supply the information, which is not available here.