§ 46. Viscount SANDONasked the Prime Minister whether consideration is being given to the question of transferring Aden, with Socotra and its other dependencies and the Persian Gulf protectorates, from the India Office to the Colonial Office, and the Sudan from the Foreign Office to the Colonial Office, or whether he will have a full investigation made into these matters?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Colonial Office is already the responsible Department in respect of political affairs in the Aden Protectorate and on the Arabian Littoral of the Persian Gulf. The question of the future administration of Aden is now under the consideration of the Government. No change is contemplated in respect of the Sudan.
§ Viscount SANDONIs it not a fact that the proper sphere of the Colonial Office is administration?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe whole question is now under consideration, as I have said.