HC Deb 24 November 1948 vol 458 cc1234-5
33. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the large sums of money spent on the construction of luxurious tourist hotels in Jamaica and the greater desirability of modernising sugar-growing and other forms of agriculture, of developing more productive secondary industries, and so of providing steadier employment for larger numbers of people, he is satisfied that the Government of Jamaica have adequate powers of controlling capital investment and directing it to socially useful purposes.

Mr. Creech Jones

Under Regulation 9 of the Jamaica Defence (Finance) Regulations, the Government have powers of controlling capital investment. No capital issues have been made for hotel construction.

Mr. Driberg

While fully realising the importance of the dollars involved, may I ask my right hon. Friend to bear in mind that the luxury tourist industry makes no contribution at all to the social advancement of the people of the island, and is moreover an extremely unstable industry, dependent largely as it is on American booms and slumps?

Mr. Creech Jones

Yes, I appreciate that. There is much work to be done, and the Governor himself is taking steps to see that capital investment is properly controlled.

Mr. Stanley

But does the right hon. Gentleman really agree with the statement that the tourist traffic is of no economic importance to the West Indies?

An Hon. Member

He did not say that.

Mr. Creech Jones

No, the tourist traffic has great economic importance in the case of Jamaica.

Mr. Driberg

With respect, I did not say "economic"; I said "social"—it contributes nothing to the social advancement of the people.

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