HC Deb 30 January 1952 vol 495 cc174-6
27. Mr. Thomas Reid

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the recent financial sacrifices made by British taxpayers by their recent subventions to the welfare and defence of Colonies and the recent planned development of wealth therein, he will now ask colonial governors to desist from making further demands on British taxpayers and to rely more on self help; and if he will ask colonial governors to afford colonial legislatures the opportunity of sharing in the task of solving the colonial overpopulation problem.

Mr. Lyttelton

No, Sir. As colonial governments are already providing a large proportion of the cost of development I am not prepared to withdraw any of the allocations already promised by His Majesty's Government.

As regards the second part of the Question, I am not aware of anything which debars colonial legislatures from so doing.

Mr. Reid

The reply of the right hon. Gentleman to my Question referred to future grants and not to grants already given, which must of course be honoured.

Mr. Lyttelton

In my opinion, the general system must continue.

Mr. Mikardo

While I agree with what the right hon. Gentleman has said, is not the position the reverse of that suggested in the Question, namely, that some of the arrangements for marketing and pricing of commodities of Colonial Territories amount to their subsidising this country?

Mr. Lyttelton

That is a different question.

Mr. Fenner Brockway

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the great body of my hon. Friends support more development aid for the Colonies and not less, as suggested in the Question?