24. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with the abolition of penal sanctions in labour contracts in Colonial territories in British Africa?
§ Mr. George HallPenal sanctions for breaches of contract by workers have been abolished, or virtually abolished, in the West African Colonies: they are still prescribed in the legislation of East African territories. As was indicated by the then Secretary of State for the Colonies in his reply to a Question on the same subject by my hon. Friend on 7th February, it will not be practicable for such sanctions as remain to be abolished in East Africa immediately. They will be abolished progressively, as is prescribed in the recent International Labour Convention. The Government of Kenya last year passed an amending law providing that no juvenile under the apparent age of 16 years should be subject to the penal sanctions contained in the Employment of Servants Ordinance. The Government of Northern Rhodesia have just passed an amending law making similar provision, and also abolishing certain of the penal sanctions applicable to adult workers. I hope that these examples will be followed by other East African Governments, and that despite the war it may be possible for further progress to be made.
Mr. Creech JonesMay I take it that it is the intention of the Government to follow this matter through consistently and persistently until penal sanctions in all labour contracts in all Colonies have been abolished altogether?
25. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the report of the Commission to inquire into the dispute and shootings of Africans in the Copper Belt; and whether it will be published, and when?
§ Mr. HallThe report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Copper-belt disturbances has been received, and was forwarded last week to the Governor of Northern Rhodesia, to whom it is addressed. The Governor has been asked for his observations on the report, and it will be for consideration in due course whether it should be published and, if so, when.
Mr. Creech JonesWill the hon. Gentleman take steps to secure the publication of this report and, if possible, that there may be an opportunity of discussing it in the House?
§ Mr. HallAs I indicated in my reply, it is for the Governor himself, who was responsible for the appointment of the Commission, to give the Colonial Office the benefit of his observations. When they are received, all the matters mentioned by my hon. Friend will be considered.
26. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies in what Colonies in Africa labour departments have been set up, where labour officers have been appointed; whether any have been seconded since the war for alternative duties; what other specialised labour officers or inspectors have been appointed; and what qualifications are required for such appointments?
§ Mr. HallAs the reply to all the Questions raised by my hon. Friend must of necessity be of some length, I will, with his permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the reply:
Labour Departments have been established during the last three years in the Gold Coast, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and labour inspectorates in Tanganyika Territory, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Gambia. In Uganda there has been an Inspector of Labour for some years, and in Kenya the supervision of labour has up to this year been entrusted to a Labour Section which formed part of the staff of the Chief Native Commissioner. The Governor of Kenya, however, 192 recently decided that the establishment of a separate Labour Department was desirable, and this change has now been effected. Similar action is being taken by the Government of Tanganyika. In Sierra Leone, also, a separate Labour Department is being established, and in Nigeria the expansion of the inspecting staff is under consideration. The total number of full-time officers employed in these newly created Departments is at the present time about 30. The importance of maintaining adequate experienced staff for this service has been fully realised by Colonial Governments, and only in one or two cases has an officer from a Labour Department or Inspectorate been released for military or other duties. In addition to the Labour Departments or Inspectorates, all Colonial Governments in whose territory mining is carried on have Mines Departments with staffs of inspectors, and in Uganda, Tanganyika and Nyasaland factory inspectors have been, or are being, appointed.
With regard to the concluding part of the Question, the policy which is being adopted for the staffing of the African Labour Departments is to form the nucleus of the Department by seconding officers of the Provincial or District Administrations, who have wide experience and knowledge of the territory, and of the habits, needs and language of its people. In certain cases where it has been impossible for the Colonial Government to spare sufficient officers for this purpose from the Administration, the staff of the Labour Department has been supplemented by the engagement of suitable persons from outside the Service, who possess experience of local labour conditions. Arrangements are being made to give the officers, when on leave in this country, courses of instruction in certain aspects of labour problems with which they may not have came into direct contact in their own territories, and I am glad to say that it has been found possible to hold two such courses since the outbreak of the war.