§ 48. Mr. CHARLES BUXTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state, in connection with the work on the construction of the Zambesi Bridge and the other schemes recommended by the Colonial Development Advisory Committee, what steps he proposes to take to secure that the conditions of labour laid down in the Colonial Development Act, 1929, shall be observed, i.e., that the wages paid shall not be less than the standard rates; that no forced labour shall be used; and that an age limit shall be established under which no children shall be employed?
§ Mr. LUNNRegular periodical reports will be required from all Governments concerned. In the special case of the Zambesi Bridge, which will not be in British territory, steps will be taken to include safeguards regarding conditions of labour in the terms of the contract.
§ Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEWill there be an inspector to see that this work is carried out?
§ Mr. LUNNI cannot say definitely that that will be so, but we hope to get decent conditions and even better conditions than those contained in the Act.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHas the contract yet been let, or not?
§ 65. Mr. FERGUS GRAHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any definite orders in connection with the Zambesi Bridge have yet been placed; and whether negotiations with the Portuguese Government regarding the security of title for the investment of British public money in this undertaking have been satisfactorily concluded?
§ Mr. LUNNThe answer to the first part is in the negative. There is no reason to discuss the validity of the concession, which has never been doubted.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan my hon. Friend say whether there is any chance of the Government consulting with Sir George Schuster now that he is back from India on this matter of the Zambesi Bridge which he turned down in his original report?