§ 7. Mr. HURDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received information from the Windward and Leeward Islands that their steamship communications with the outside world are now restricted to a single unpunctual monthly freighter without cold-storage capacity; and whether, as this isolation is affecting the school and medical necessities of the islands, remedial measures can be taken through the Imperial Economic Committee or in any other way?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Amery)I am aware that the subsidised steamship service hitherto operated by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company between Canada and the Colonies mentioned has been withdrawn, and replaced by a service of the nature indicated. The question was considered by the recent West Indian Conference, and a resolution passed by that Conference has been transmitted to the Government of Canada. As my hon. Friend is aware, the agreement concluded at Ottawa in 1925 between the Government of Canada and the Governments of the West Indian and other Colonies provided in Article IX for steamship services to the Windward and Leeward Islands, and pending the establishment of such services I do not consider that there is any further action which I could usefully take in the matter.
§ Mr. HURDCannot something be done in the matter of assisting this movement in connection with the Imperial Economic Committee?
§ Mr. AMERYArrangements have been entered into, and we ought to wait and see if they come to fruition.