§ Sir J. D. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State for India has decided to establish an executive council for the United Provinces; and, if so, whether this step is taken upon the recommendation of the Government of India; and, in that event, whether the adverse opinion of the late Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Hewett was overruled?
§ Mr. C. H. ROBERTSI would refer the hon. Member to the statement that I made to the House on 26th November. The opinion of Sir John Hewett was expressed in 1909; his successor and the Government of India agree that the Provinces are now ripe for a measure which six years ago might have been premature.