§ Miss RATHBONEasked the Secretary of State for India what proportion of those sent to prison for political offences in India during the last six months have been relegated to classes A, B and C, 1308W respectively; and, seeing that the proportion now relegated to Class C is substantially greater than when the ordinances were in force in 1930, whether this is due to differences in the nature of the offences or to a change of policy with regard to the treatment of political prisoners?
§ Sir S. HOAREI regret that I am not in possession of the information asked for in the first part of the question, but I will make inquiries and will communicate the result to the hon. Member. As regards the second part of the question, I would point out that the classification of prisoners is the function of the courts, subject to review by the Local Governments, and the courts are guided by the same rules as were in force in 1930.