§ 18. Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state who at present occupies the post of economic adviser to the Sudan Government; when was this appointment created; and what are the qualifications of the present incumbent?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe post in question is held by Mr. A. J. C. Huddleston, who was appointed with the title of Economic Adviser in November, 1931. The Department of Economic Development, of which Mr. Huddleston is in charge, was itself created in April, 1931. Mr. Huddleston has been in the Sudan Service since 1904. He has been Governor of Khartoum Province and of the Blue Nile Province, and from 1928 to 1931 held the post of Financial Secretary to the Sudan Government.
§ Sir A. KNOXIs it not a fact that this official was removed from his post as Financial Secretary to the Sudan Government, and that the other new post was created for him?
§ Sir J. SIMONI am afraid I should have to ask for notice of that question.
§ 19. Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that, in the month of January, 1931, the Sudan Government Council deprived all officers and officials in the Southern Provinces of their climate allowance, amounting to about 15 per cent. of their total pay and allowances, while four months previously, in the autumn of 1930, the members of this Government Council had. voted themselves an additional salary of £250 per head, which they still retain in spite of the present financial stringency; and if he will see his way to inquire into these matters, which have caused and are causing discontent?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I understand that the discontinuance of the climate allowance was held to be justifiable on the ground that officials and officers serving in the Southern Provinces are granted additional service towards pension. According to my information, however, 15 per cent. is a rather exaggerated estimate of the value of the 1535 climate allowance; cuts in other allowances applying to the whole service, and not merely to the Southern Provinces, were brought into force in 1931, and I think it would be correct to say that 15 per cent. represents the total cut sustained by those serving in the Southern Provinces, part of this reduction being shared by the service as a whole. My hon. and gallant Friend is misinformed in stating that the members of the Governor's Council voted themselves an additional salary of 250 Egyptian pounds in the autumn of 1930. On the contrary, they, in January of this year, have been subjected to a cut which amounts to 10 per cent. on salaries over 1,750 Egyptian pounds per annum. I am glad to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the action of the Governor-General of the Sudan, Sir John Maffey, who has voluntarily submitted his own salary to 'a cut of 20 per cent.
§ Sir A. KNOXWill the right hon. Gentleman look into the facts as regards the Southern Provinces, and ascertain whether clerks on a salary of about £70 a year are now having to pay even for their quinine?
§ Sir J. SIMONI will gladly look into the matter further, but I think that the answer I have given is quite accurate.