§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)To ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact of the sale of Government House at Entebbe, the ravages of sleeping sickness, the insufficiency of the water supply, fever, and the general unsuitability of the district adjoining the lake, he will, before expending public money in the erection of a new Government House, consider the advisability of removing the seat of government, temporarily at any rate, to the Kampala district, where the tsetse fly and sleeping sickness are unknown; and if he will, in view of the importance of the East Africa and Uganda Protectorates, endeavour to pay, himself, a visit to the country.
1587 (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) With regard to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, I would refer him to the reply which I gave to his Question of the 19th July. The Secretary of State is communicating with the Deputy Commissioner of Uganda and Dr. Moffat on the question of the desirability of removing the seat of government in Uganda to Kampala, and when their replies have been received the whole matter will be carefully considered in consultation with the Commissioner. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I should particularly desire to pay a visit to the East Africa and Uganda Protectorates if the Secretary of State were to consider that I could be spared from my duties in the House of Commons. But in view of the occurrence of an Autumn Session I fear my wish is hardly likely to be realised this year.