§ 7. Mr. Cooperasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many officials on the staff of the Colonial Office paid visits to any part of the British Colonies for any purpose during the years ended 31st December, 1947, and 31st December, 1938, respectively.
§ Mr. CooperIs the right hon. Gentleman looking into the claim recently publicised by the Governor of the Leeward Islands about the number of fruitless 1119 journeys made by officials from his Department, which claim is confirmed by Colonial officials in other parts of the Empire; and is he instituting some check to ensure that all these journeys are really necessary and productive?
Mr. Creech JonesAll the journeys being made are necessary. It is important that the Colonial Office should be staffed by people with some experience in the Colonies. I can only say that if such a statement is made in regard to the Leeward Islands it is just nonsense.
§ Mr. Oliver StanleyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the old days, when air travel was difficult, the continual complaint of the Colonies was that not enough visits were made from the Colonial Office? Is it not a very good thing that more and more visits should be made?
§ Mr. Thomas ReidMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if in addition to sending out these officials, he would make it his policy to staff the Colonial Office as far as possible with people with long administrative and political experience of the Colonies?
§ Mr. Vernon BartlettIs it not a fact that, now air travel and conditions of travel are so much easier, more and more officials are needed, especially those with technical experience, to go round? Will he encourage that as much as possible?
Mr. Creech JonesCertainly. It is being encouraged in every possible way and the figures I have quoted indicate the progress which has been made since the war.