§ 33. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many miles of railway have been constructed in the British East African Dependencies during the past four-and-a-half years; and how much of this construction has been financed by grants or loans from the Imperial Government?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)The total length of Government railway lines in the British Dependencies in East Africa constructed and opened to traffic since 1st January, 1925, is approximately 700 miles. The greater part of that section of the Tabora-Mwanza Railway which extends from Tabora to Shinyanga (122 miles) was built from a loan made to the Tanganyika Government by the Imperial Exchequer. Certain lines in Kenya and 2189 Uganda were initiated under the Parliamentary Loan of 1924, since paid off by the Government of Kenya. The remainder of the railway construction in question has been carried out from loans raised by the Government of the Tanganyika Territory under the Palestine and East Africa Loans Act, 1926, and by the Government of Kenya on the open market. Another 260 miles are still under construction, mostly under that Act.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINMay we take it that there will be considerable developments of this activity during the next few years?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI sincerely hope so.
§ Mr. THURTLECan the hon. Member say to what extent the value of the land adjoining this railway has been enhanced as a result of this enterprise?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI should very much doubt whether there has been any alteration in the value of the land. It is in the hands of native peasants, and there are no European enterprises of any kind, and I suggest that no sale of land in that area is at all likely.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAWill the hon. Gentleman—
§ Mr. SPEAKERBoth the supplementary question and the answer are quite out of order. They have nothing to do with the question on the Paper.