§ 50. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can inform the House what steps he has taken to assist the West Indies with regard to the situation that has arisen of the threatened reduction of passenger transport facilities between these islands and Canada, and also the limited passenger service between the islands and this country?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for COLONIAL AFFAIRS (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)The provision of transport facilities between the West Indies and Canada is regulated by agreement between the Colonies and the Govern-
| 1925. | English Schools. | Vernacular Schools. | ||
| Malay. | Tamil. | Chinese. | ||
| Average number of pupils enrolled | 13,876 | 29,227 | 8,153 | 15,409 |
| Number of pupils exempt from school fees. | 3,427 | All free. | — | — |
| I regret that I have no information as to the number of free places in the Tamil and Chinese Vernacular Schools. |
§ ment of Canada. My right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot hold out any hope of the possibility of further subsidies in aid of passenger communications between the islands and this country.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKIs the hon. Gentleman aware that passenger facilities between Jamaica and the Mother Country are now smaller than they have ever been, and will he endeavour to assist one of the oldest Colonies to keep in touch with the Mother Country?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThat is clearly a question that should be addressed to the Treasury rather than to myself. Obviously, the question of giving a subsidy for further passenger accommodation is not one within the mere discretion of the Colonial Office.
§ Commander BELLAIRSIs it not the case that the question of an air service is being considered in the West Indies, which would help the passenger service?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThat is true.