HC Deb 14 April 1948 vol 449 cc960-1
28. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to absorb the unemployed in the Gold Coast; how many of the unemployed are trained or semi-trained industrially; and whether a portion of the cocoa marketing surplus will be devoted to initiating or expanding industries in West Africa.

Mr. McNeil

The Gold Coast is predominantly an agricultural country, and the labour situation is, in general, one of seasonal under-employment, except for a small nucleus of unemployed ex-Service men and others. The development projects which are being planned and pushed forward are designed to meet this situation. No figures other than for ex-Service men are immediately available to show the numbers unemployed or their degree of training. The semi-trained ex-Service men now seeking work number 375 clerical workers, 536 motor drivers, 302 nursing orderlies and 1,380 other tradesmen. No fully trained men are idle.

As regards the last part of the Question, the funds of the Gold Coast Cocoa Marketing Board, by its constitution, must be used for the benefit of the Cocoa Industry and those engaged in it, and are not available for the purpose suggested. The present problem, however, is not one of shortage of finance, but of capital equipment and technical staff.

Mr. Sorensen

Would my right hon. Friend say when this need is likely to be met, in view of the number of unemployed in the Gold Coast who will have to be reemployed in the future? Is it the intention of His Majesty's Government to develop industries in other parts of the Colonial Empire?

Mr. McNeil

The Board, as I understand it, has been planning and pushing for the fulfilment of these plans but, as I have said already, the situation as presented to me is that the mass of the unemployment is seasonal and not permanent.