§ 56. Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state, in respect of the last financial year for Cyprus, what sums have been spent in administration; what in the upkeep of State property; and what has been used for the welfare and general development of the island?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Dr. Drummond Shiels)Apart from paper entries, the total Government expenditure in 1928 was £679,980. The whole of this sum, less £10,000 contributed to Imperial defence, was spent in the services and administration of the colony. This expenditure can properly be regarded as devoted to the welfare and general development of the island. I am not able to give an estimate of the proportion spent upon the upkeep of State property.
§ 57. Mr. SMITHasked the Under-.Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has received a reply to the memorandum which has been sent to the Governor of Cyprus on the question of the future government of the island and the possibility of a commission of inquiry; and whether he can make any statement to the House?
§ Dr. SHIELSThe despatch in question does not necessarily call for a reply, and none has so far been received. A Command Paper containing the correspondence and giving full information will be laid as soon as possible.
§ Mr. HOLFORD KNIGHTIn view of the strong representations that have recently been made to the Government, cannot a commission of inquiry into this question be set up?
§ Dr. SHIELSA commission of inquiry is not contemplated.
§ 58. Mr. SMITHasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the amount of public financial assistance given to Cyprus for education in each of the years since 1925; what is the number, approximately, of children
| Year. | Amount of Government Assistance. | Amount of Education Tax. | Total public assistance. | No. of scholars on roll. | No. of children of Elementary School age. | No. of Elementary Scholars on roll. | |
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| 1926* | … | 55,617 | 43,282 | 98,899 | 51,875 | 63,000 | 48,500 |
| 1927* | … | 61,629 | 43,083 | 104,712 | 50,139 | 63,000 | 46,677 |
| 1928* | … | 61,747 | 43,868 | 105,615 | 51,025 | 64,000 | 47,654 |
| 1929 (est.) | … | 63,550 | Not available. | ||||
| *"School years" from preceding 1st October to 30th September of year quoted. | |||||||
| No figures are available for the number of children of Secondary School age, and consequently no figure can be given for the total number of children of School age. There are 995 schools in the Colony at present of which 992 are State-aided. |