asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will state the total sum expended up to date in respect of the trial of the Meerut conspiracy case prisoners, including the cost of the magisterial inquiry previous to the trial, the fees of the judges and assessors as well as of the senior and junior Crown counsel, the expenditure in respect of the conveyance of witnesses for the prosecution to Meerut from places within and without British-India, the cost of the board and lodging of the witnesses at Meerut, the printing of the prosecution exhibits, depositions, and orders, and the services of the handwriting expert and technical photographer, and when the counsel for the prosecution was engaged?

I have no information later than that given by my predecessor to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Epsom (Commander Southby) on the 26th January; I am making inquiries, the result of which will be communicated to the hon. Member in due course.

In view of the fact that these people have now been in prison for two years, will the Government consider releasing them at once, and by that means save our cash, our credit and our reputation?

I have already answered that question once or twice in the last few weeks. I tell hon. Members opposite that I cannot interfere with the trial during its actual course.

What opportunities were given to the prisoners to secure counsel to help their case?

Such opportunities were given, and the trial has been going on month After month and year after year.