§ MR. WEDGWOOD (Newcastle-under-Lyme)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any instructions have been given to Sir Percy Girouard as to reporting on railway extensions in Northern Nigeria; and, if so, whether he has been instructed to report at the same time on the present ownership of the land along the proposed line of railway, and as to proposals for securing for this country or the Colony any increased value of the land within five miles of the proposed railway track.
§ MR. HARCOURTSir Percy Girouard has been instructed to report on the subject of railway construction in Northern Nigeria. No specific instructions have been given to him to report on the present ownership of the land through which railways may pass, but it is thought that under the laws already in force in Northern Nigeria the necessary facilities exist for securing for the Government the increased value of any land within a reasonable distance of a railway. His attention will, however, be called specially to the point.
§ MR. WEDGWOODasked whether, seeing that the course of the railway was more or less known, the Colonial Office would take any steps to prevent land speculation pending the actual arrangements made for testing the increased value of the land.
§ MR. HARCOURTI will see that the hon. Member's wishes are represented to the Secretary for the Colonies.