HC Deb 17 February 1937 vol 320 cc1167-8
24. Captain Arthur Evans

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to receive the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee, appointed last November, upon the steps to be taken to mitigate the hardships from which coloured persons are suffering in certain parts of this country?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

The subject was considered at an Inter-Departmental Conference held in December last, and as a result it was decided that special inquiries should be made and further information collected from the various departmental authorities who are in local touch with different sides of this problem. These inquiries are now proceeding, so I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any further statement.

Captain Evans

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Home Office seem to be totally unaware of the existence of these persons, and having been in touch with them, may I ask whether the Board of Trade is being consulted in this direction?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I understand that the India Office, the Board of Trade, the Home Office, my office, and, I think, two other offices attended the Inter-Departmental Conference, and we are all making inquiries into what is a very complex problem.