§ Mr. GARDNERasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any agreement was secured at the recent conference called by the Government of India, at New Delhi, of representatives 45W from the Provinces with regard to the establishment of Public Service Commissions in the different Provinces; and in which Provinces such bodies have been proposed by the Provincial Governments and in which the proposal has received the sanction of the Government of India and in which such bodies are already in being?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe conference in question was held for purposes of mutual consultation and discussion only. The question of provincial public service Commissions did not appear on the agenda, but in the course of discussion on other points it appeared that one province at least favoured the institution of such a body. Two local Governments (Madras and Burma) have made proposals in general terms for the setting up of local Commissions. These were approved in 1925, but as neither local government has yet committed itself finally to a definite scheme any further announcement would be premature. No province has yet set up a Commission.