HC Deb 24 February 1937 vol 320 cc1985-6
42. Mr. Maxton

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of unemployed in each of the West Indian islands under British control?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I regret that no figures of the number of unemployed in the British West Indies are available.

Mr. Maxton

Am I to understand that the right hon. Gentleman knows nothing about the state of employment in the West Indian islands?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I know generally that there are no industrial factories and no mines. The islands are purely agricultural and we do not hear of people being unemployed. I have no reason to believe that there are unemployed in the islands.

Mr. Maxton

Presumably there is someone responsible to the Department in each island?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

Yes, the Governors in each case.

Mr. Leach

Will the right hon. Gentleman try to get us this information, differentiating between the various occupations, and particularly the sugar industry?