§ 1. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made regarding the development of hydro-electricity in Nigeria; if the engineer who was appointed at the end of 1947 to undertake hydro-electric surveys, but left Nigeria after three months, has since returned to complete the surveys; and how much of the proposed expenditure of about £1,500,000 on electrical development under the Ten-Year Plan has actually been expended.
Mr. Creech JonesI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply on 2nd March to my hon. Friend the Member for West Wolverhampton (Mr. H. D. Hughes). The officer referred to returned to Nigeria last July to make further investigations. It is estimated that expenditure under the Ten-Year Plan to the end of the current financial year will amount to nearly £300,000.
§ Mr. RankinIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is a fairly widespread feeling that development in Nigeria in this particular regard is just a little too slow, and will he take steps to speed it up?
Mr. Creech JonesYes, we are doing all we can to speed it up, but it is retarded by the limitation on the number of staff available and equipment.