HC Deb 17 December 1941 vol 376 cc1923-4
19. Mr. Riley

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will place in the Library a copy of the scale of salaries which the Nigerian Government proposes for African members of the Civil Service; and give the comparable salaries which are at present in force for white members of the Nigerian Civil Service?

Mr. George Hall

In the last part of my reply to the Question asked by the hon. Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on 3rd December, I referred to proposals for changes in the conditions of service, including salary scales, of certain African members of the Nigerian Civil Service. It has been learned from despatches received from the Governor of Nigeria within the last few days that those proposals were not accepted by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council and in consequence were withdrawn. Certain changes have, however, been made in the salary scales and terms of service of clerical and subordinate technical African staff and employees, a note of which I shall be glad to send to my hon. Friend. There are no posts held by Europeans in these grades.

Mr. Creech Jones

Will my hon. Friend make a recommendation that the basic rates of salary might be improved?

Mr. Hall

That was one of the subjects dealt with in the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Leyton to which I have referred. Unfortunately, both the persons concerned and the Legislative Council rejected the proposals contained in the Sessional papers.