§ 23. Mr. Parkerasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the need for some welfare schemes in British Guiana has been accentuated by war conditions; and whether the special grants promised from the Imperial Exchequer and the Colonial Development Fund can be made available for this purpose?
§ Mr. George HallIn July of last year the Legislative Council of British Guiana unanimously passed a resolution forgoing, as a contribution to the war effort, all assistance from the United Kingdom Exchequer, and no issues were, therefore, made to the Colony from the sum of £350,000 which was provided for such works in the West Indies as could be put in hand forthwith. Schemes were, however, initiated in British Guiana in 1940, the cost being met from the Colony's own resources. In the event of applications being received from the Colony for grants from the Colonial Development and Welfare Vote, they would be sympathetically considered. There is a local Development Trust Fund, the objects of which are the improvement of social conditions and the promotion of agriculture and other industries, and certain schemes are being financed from this Fund