§ 25. Mr. Thomas Reidasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will request the Governors of Colonies to establish local commissions composed largely of elected legislators or councillors to consider the problem of securing for the people in future the necessities of life and desirable social services in view of the prevailing high birth-rates.
Mr. DugdaleMy right hon. Friend is aware of the problem to which my hon. Friend refers, but does not at present contemplate any approach to Colonial Governors of the kind he suggests. Colonial development plans, which did not ignore population trends and were designed to make available the necessities of life and desirable social services within the financial capacity of the territory concerned, were adopted after consultation with local legislators.
§ Mr. Hector HughesIs it not the fact that most of this beneficial work is carried out by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and as it does not appear to be well known would my right hon. Friend consider issuing a White Paper on the subject?
Mr. DugdaleA large amount of development work is carried out by the Colonies themselves. We help by Colonial Development and Welfare funds, but the work is undertaken by the Colonies themselves.