§ Mr. CROWDERasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will make a statement about the proposal to recruit entrants for the Indian Civil Service by selection without examination during the current year?
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§ Mr. BUTLERMy Noble Friend is of the opinion that it is a matter of such importance to correct the present deficiency of European recruitment to the Service that he hopes to make a beginning this year with the new system of recruitment by selection. Any men selected this year will not, of course, be ready for appointment until the autumn of 1937 as they will, in common with the candidates taken by examination, have to undergo a year's probation. It is anticipated that, subject to the approval of Parliament, by that time Section 244 of the Government of India Act, 1935, which is the authority under which the Secretary of State will be able to appoint them, will have come into operation. But should this not prove to be the case, my Noble Friend would be prepared to ask for authority to appoint men selected this year, by means of an appropriate amendment of Section 244.