§ Mr. SCURRasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India propose to introduce an amendment to the Trade Union Act, whereby any person not engaged in the particular industry will not be allowed to take part in the organisation and administration of trade unionists; and whether, in view of the fact that large numbers of Indian workers are illiterate, he will make representations to the Government of India to withdraw this proposal, so that the Indian workers may have the assistance of better educated persons in organising their unions, as the British workers had half-a-century ago?
§ Mr. RICHARDSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. There is at present no Trade Union Act in India, but the Government of India contemplate introducing legislation next year for the registration and protection of trade unions. A copy of the draft Bill is expected shortly, and will be placed in the library when it arrives.