§ 7. Commander Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why eight agricultural students who were due to take a course at the Tropical College in Trinidad commencing in October were sent there by air at a cost to the country of approximately £1,408 when they were available for a sea passage.
Mr. Creech JonesThe decision to send these agricultural probationers by air was taken only because all efforts to secure sea passages by which they would reach Trinidad by October had failed. Normally such probationers are sent by sea, and it is hoped that the shipping difficulties which were encountered this year will not recur in future.
§ Commander MaitlandWould it not have been known for some time ahead that these probationers were going to the West Indies? Would it not have been possible to engage passages for them if it had been planned ahead?
Mr. Creech JonesI made inquiries into that point and I assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that such arrangements could not be made. The men did not finish their course at Cambridge until the middle of August. There was no loss of time so far as my Department was concerned.