§ 13. Mr. JANNER (for Captain PETER MACDONALD)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the report of Sir Felix Pole on the reorganisation of the Palestine railways has been received and considered by the High Commissioner; whether he can give an assurance that the proposals will be adopted at the earliest possible opportunity in order to further the economic development of that mandated territory; what will be the approximate cost of the reforms proposed; and what will be the value of railway material which will have to be imported into Palestine to carry out this work?
Mr. M. MacDONALDI am not yet in a position to add anything to the previous replies which have been given to questions on this subject.
§ Mr. JANNERCannot the right hon. Gentleman see to it that this matter is taken in hand at once; and is it true that the report has been in the hands of the Colonial Office and of his Department for some months, and that there is a considerable amount of difficulty being experienced in Palestine at present owing to the fact that the report has not been dealt with?
Mr. MacDONALDAs the hon. Member will understand from previous answers, the report has been in the hands of the High Commissioner for some time, and he has lost no time in giving it his careful consideration. I cannot take any further action in the matter until I have heard his views on the report.
§ Mr. JANNERWill the right hon. Gentleman say that he will let us see the report so that we may consider it ourselves?