§ 39. Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what part of the expense of the West Indian Sugar Commission is to be borne by the West Indian Colonies themselves; and whether he will consider relieving them of this expenditure if the recommendations of the Commission are not carried out?
§ Dr. SHIELSAs regards the first part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave to the right hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Ormsby-Gore) on the 29th of January and to the hon. Member for Camberwell (Dr. Morgan) on the 5th of February. I am not in a position to reply to the second part of the question, which is hypothetical.
§ 40. Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any reply has yet been sent to the representations of the Governor of the Leeward Islands drawing attention to the distress and destruction of the sugar indutry which will result if His Majesty's Government is unable to give effect to the recommendations of the West Indian Sugar Commission; what was the nature of the reply; whether any further communications have been received from other Governors in the West Indies; and what has been their nature and the reply sent in each case?
§ Dr. SHIELSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. My Noble Friend has received through the Governor of Barbados a telegram embodying a message from the Barbados Legislature. The message, which is too long to quote here, appeared in the Press on the 4th of April. No reply has yet been returned.