HC Deb 08 December 1937 vol 330 cc378-9
38. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total square mileage of territory for which he is responsible; the total British, non-British white, and coloured population, respectively; the total value of production in the last available year; and, approximately, how much of the above refers to mandated areas?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

  1. (a) Total square mileage of the Colonial Empire, 2,250,000 square miles.
  2. (b) Population: White 1,500,000, Coloured over 55,000,000.
  3. (c) Value of exports of domestic produce in 1936: About £170,000,000.

(These figures include those for Transjordan (mandated territory), the South Africa High Commission territories and Aden.)

It is regretted that it is not possible to divide the white population into "British" and "non-British," as in the majority of the Colonies, etc., the white population is shown only as "European."

The figures for the three mandated territories in Africa are as follow:

  1. (a) 407,000 square miles.
  2. (b) 9,000 White; 6,500,000 Coloured.
  3. (c) £5,250,000.

The area of Palestine and Transjordan is approximately 45,000 square miles; the population consists of approximately 796,000 Moslems, 384,000 Jews, 109,000 Christians and 11,000 others making a total of 1,300,000; and the value of domestic exports in 1936 amounted to £3,750,000.

It is not possible to estimate the value of the total production in the Colonial Empire, as much of the produce is consumed locally. In the circumstances the figures given above are those of the value of domestic produce exported.