HC Deb 28 February 1951 vol 484 cc2070-1
11. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reason only five of the last 35 Malay candidates interviewed for the Malayan Civil Service were selected, although they all had either long experience as administrative officers or were barristers or graduates of English universities.

Mr. J. Griffiths

I am consulting the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya and will write my hon. Friend in due course.

Mr. Wyatt

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that it is of the utmost importance that we should make the Malayan people believe that we want them to have self-government? Will he therefore bring as many Malays into the Civil Service as possible?

Mr. Griffiths

I appreciate that.

Mr. Niall Macpherson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many British graduates have failed to get into the Malayan Civil Service? Will he, above all things, maintain the quality of that Civil Service?