§ MR. EMMOTT (Oldham)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any decision has yet been arrived at in reference to the question of railway development in Northern Nigeria; and, if no decision has been arrived at, whether, having regard to the impossibility of industrial progress on any large scale, either in cotton-growing or other industries, until a railway is
† See page 76.548 made, and the unlikelihood of the grant-in-aid being reduced until industrial development does take place, he can say when a decision is likely to be arrived at.
§ MR. LYTTELTONNo decision has yet been arrived at, but the report of the survey for a railway from the Niger to Kano has now been received and is under consideration. I should add, with reference to the grant-in-aid, that the amount inserted in the Estimates for the current year is £320,000, which is £85,000 less than the amount which was voted in 1904–5.
§ MR. EMMOTTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will lay a Paper upon the Table giving particulars of the various plans and estimates for alternative schemes of light and heavy railways in Northern Nigeria; and whether he will nclude in it the despatches of Sir Frederick Lugard on the question (if any).
§ MR. LYTTELTONA Paper will be laid giving the particulars asked for and including despatches from Sir F. Lugard and others on the question.