§ 26. Brigadier Prior-Palmerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the outstanding orders of steel rails for Tanganyika and Kenya; and to what extent have orders been met in the last six months.
Mr. Creech JonesThere are outstanding orders for 4,580 tons of rails for the Tanganyika section of the East African Railways but none for the Kenya section. During the last six months, 1,500 tons of rails have been supplied for use in Tanganyika, and 5,500 for Kenya.
§ Brigadier Prior-PalmerHaving regard to the recent despatch of a large consignment of steel rails to Russia, will not the right hon. Gentleman use his influence to see that first priority is given in this respect to the needs of our Colonial territories?
Mr. Creech JonesThat is a larger question so far as the Colonial Empire is concerned. As regards Tanganyika, the rate of flow is in accordance with the arrangements made by the contract.