HC Deb 21 June 1944 vol 401 cc176-7
29. Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will consider the issue of an annual statement, covering the work of his Department and the developments and progress made in the Dependencies.

30. Sir Robert Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the changed war situation in relation to most of the Colonial Empire territories, whereby increased attention is being given to social, economic and political development, and as there are now information officers in many of the Colonies, it will in future be possible to arrange for the issue of a statement to accompany the Estimates, as provided in 1937–38; and whether publication of the Annual Colonial Reports and the Economic Survey of the Colonial Empire can be resumed, in order to provide more up-to-date information.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Colonel Oliver Stanley)

I agree with the hon. Gentlemen in wishing that as much information about the Colonies should be made available to the public as is practicable in present circumstances. I have, therefore, arranged for the publication in the last year of a considerable number of documents. Colonial Governments are, however, still preoccupied with numerous and urgent war tasks, particularly in regard to production, and the shortage of staff in the Colonial Services is very critical. There is the utmost difficulty in finding the staff to carry out central planning for social and economic development, and I regret that I cannot at present see my way to laying upon Colonial Governments the additional burden involved in the collection of the information and statistics which would be required for an annual report by myself, or for annual reports by Colonial Governments.

Mr. Creech Jones

May we have an assurance that, in the least possible time, such reports, and particularly a review of the Colonial Office, will be made available for the House, because they will increase interest in the work of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's Department, and meet some of the pressing needs which have been expressed in the House?

Colonel Stanley

I am glad to give that assurance.