§ 17. Sir ROBERT HAMILTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any definite organisation exists in the Colonial Office for the collation of information obtainable from similar Departments of Government in our various Crown Colonies and Protectorates and for its utilisation in directing the activities of those Departments?
§ Mr. AMERYThe importance is well' recognised at the Colonial Office of supplying oversea Governments with information as regards other Colonies and Dependencies where this is likely to be of use in Colonial administration or development, and I am extending the system under which certain subjects are specially studied by individual officers to whom all communications dealing with these subjects are passed, thus ensuring the collation and distribution of all important information. The same object is also directly promoted through special committees and technical advisers. Further, Colonial Governments are encouraged to exchange direct with each other reports of general interest and documents embodying the results of local experience in various fields.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONIs the particular officer referred to concerned only in the 1006 collation of this information, and no other?
§ Mr. AMERYNo; what I meant was that an individual officer will be encouraged to become specialised on particular subjects, and that material from all the Colonies connected with these subjects will come under review.