§ 38. Mr. Rileyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he intends shortly to present to Parliament a comprehensive report dealing with the economic and political development of our Colonial territories since 1939.
§ Colonel StanleyI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Members for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) and Kirkdale (Sir R. Rankin) on 21st June, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. RileyDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman appreciate that it is now five years since this House had a published report on Colonial conditions? Is it not now time that another report should be issued?
§ Colonel StanleyAs I stated in reply to this Question, I am only too anxious that publication of this report should be resumed, but the House will realise that the Colonial Service to-day is working under very great difficulties, is immensely understaffed, and is faced with very great problems regarding rehabilitation and development, and I could not ask them at the moment to undertake this additional task.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhilst appreciating that the staff at the Colonial Office—
§ Colonel StanleyNot the Colonial Office, the Colonial Service.
§ Mr. ShinwellWell, the Colonial Service—is it not extremely important we should know in advance what additional preparations are being made for agricultural and industrial expansion in the Colonies?
§ Colonel StanleyYes, Sir; but I do not think the Question was addressed to that point. Certainly I will publish to the House, whenever I can, the proposals that have been put forward for future development, but the Question referred to the ordinary annual report on the whole work of a Colony during the course of the year.
§ Colonel StanleyPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will put that Question down.