18. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies what 137 action has been taken since the publication of the report of the Economic Advisory Council Committee on Nutrition in the Colonial Empire; whether the Colonial Governments have considered the application of the many ideas and recommendations in the report; whether reports have been received from the Colonial Governors on this problem; and what progress has been made?
§ Mr. George HallCopies of the report of the Committee mentioned by my hon. Friend were communicated to Colonial Governments in July, 1939. and reports have been received from the majority of Colonial Governments in regard to the application of the recommendations of the Committee in the territories under their administration. I regret that, owing to circumstances arising out of the war, it has not yet been possible to proceed with the collation and consideration of the very valuable information contained in these reports. The matter has, however, been considered in consultation with the Medical Research Council, and it is hoped that, with the co-operation of the Council, it will be possible in the near future to make arrangements to enable progress to be made with this important matter.
Mr. Creech JonesMay I ask whether, in view of the very grave revelations in this report, it is desirable that the Colonial Development Act should be suspended altogether, and further, in spite of the war difficulties, if some progress can be made in improving the standard of living and regulating dietary?
§ Mr. HallI can assure my hon. Friend that that is being done. Already we are hoping to make progress in regard to implementing this report. Dr. Platt, who organised the nutritional survey of the Colonial Empire and who has returned from Nyasaland, is obviously the person to undertake this work, and we are hoping that he will commence part-time duties in the Colonial Office shortly.