§ 63. Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the advisability, in view of the existing situation in Palestine, of making use of Government subsidies and reserve funds for carrying out road and rail developments, for the extension of Haifa harbour, for the stimulation of municipal undertakings by Government loans, advances, and grants, and other matters recommended in the reports of experts?
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)The public works programme of Palestine is primarily a matter for the consideration of the High Commissioner whose recommendations are submitted in connection with the annual draft Estimates of the territory. In spite of the serious depletion of reserve funds, due to marked reduction of revenue, and heavy expenditure on security in connection with the recent disturbances, work is proceeding rapidly on certain special road construction, on railway improvement, and the extension of telegraph and telephone facilities, but in view of the changed financial position of Palestine and the uncertainty of future policy 37 pending receipt of the Report of the Royal Commission, I cannot encourage the initiation at the present time of new schemes of development.