§ 27. Mr. G. Cooperasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken, in view of the re-armament programme in this country, to faciliate the recruitment in the Colonies of volunteers to join the Armed Forces from Jamaica and other West Indian Colonies and from the Gold Coast, Nigeria, and other 195 Colonies where keenness is being expressed by the colonial peoples to play their part in defence of democracy.
§ Mr. CookColonials resident in this country can join the Armed Forces in the normal way. No special steps are being taken to recruit volunteers from the colonial territories. In a number of Colonies the inhabitants can join local colonial Forces, and as these Forces develop, their services will be increasingly welcomed.
§ Mr. CooperCan my hon. Friend say if the Secretary of State has had any representations made to him by the Governors of any of the Colonies mentioned in this Question, because when I was visiting some of these Colonies recently the very strongest representations were made to me that volunteers would be forthcoming if opportunity were given?