HC Deb 06 May 1953 vol 515 c355
1. Mr. Gower

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of entrants into the Colonial Service are persons born in the United Kingdom; and what proportion are nationals of other Commonwealth countries.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Oliver Lyttelton)

The great majority of posts in the public services of the Colonial Territories are filled by local recruitment. Of those recruited for the Colonial Service through the Colonial Office since the war, about 95 per cent. have been persons born in the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic, and about 3 per cent. persons born in other Commonwealth countries. Some Colonial Governments also recruit people direct from other Commonwealth countries.

Mr. Gower

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that from the Commonwealth point of view that is a very disappointing position, and does he not agree that a way of cementing our relationship with the other Commonwealth countries is to increase the number of nationals of those countries entering the Colonial Service?

Mr. Lyttelton

I quite agree with that general sentiment. The Colonial Governments, as I say, do endeavour to recruit directly from the Commonwealth countries.