§ Sir H. CARLILEasked the Secretary of State to the Colonies if he will say how many visits of selected officers of the Civil Services of the Imperial Government and of the Overseas Dominions, for the purpose of acquiring better knowledge for both services with regard to questions affecting their respective Governments, have taken place or have been arranged since the Imperiail Conference of 1911?
§ Colonel SEELYOne member of the staff of the Colonial Office has only recently returned from a service of a year on the staff of the Governor-General of Canada, and another is just returning from a service of over a year on the staff of the Governor-General of South Africa, while a third officer is now serving on the staff of the Governor-General of Australia. In the circumstances it has not been considered necessary to arrange for further special visits to the self-governing Dominions. I may add that Dr. C. A. Hoogetts, Medical Adviser to the Public Health Committee of the Commission of Conservation in Canada, and Dr. W. Perrin Norris, Director of Quarantine and Public Health for the Commonwealth of Australia, have visited this country and have been given all possible facilities in connection with their researches by the Departments of His Majesty's Government concerned.
§ Sir H. CARLILEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is intended to extend this system of visits, and also whether the Union of South Africa proposes to send one or more officials to this country for training similar to that referred to by the right hon. Gentleman.
§ Colonel SEELYI cannot answer in detail as to the last part of the question 1575 whether the Union of South Africa is sending officials to this country, but there is no change of policy., and we will welcome the exchange of visits. We have three Colonial officials in the service who have recently served in the Dominions.