§ 7. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will appoint a commission to examine and report on the opportunities for training and promotion in the public services of members of the indigenous races in British Colonies, Protectorates and Trusteeship Territories.
§ Mr. ProfumoNo, Sir. It is already the policy and practice to fill recruitment vacancies in all Colonial Territories with local people whenever suitable and qualified candidates are available; and to increase the number of local qualified candidates by training programmes in the territories and in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BrockwayIs the Under-Secretary of State aware that those of us who receive a considerable number of letters from Colonial Territories are getting a large number from very varied Colonies regarding the absence of opportunity for advancement in the Civil Service? In view of the fact that we want to prepare these people to take over their Governments, is it not desirable that priority should be given to this?
§ Mr. ProfumoMore than 1,000 locally-domiciled officers were placed in training courses in the United Kingdom in 1956.
§ Mr. BottomleyWhile I recognise that every encouragement is given and opportunity provided for full promotion within the territories concerned, would the Under-Secretary not agree that there would be an advantage in having something equivalent to the Civil Service Corn-mission that we have in this country?
§ Mr. ProfumoThe time has not come to have an equivalent arrangement, but a great deal, as the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate, is being done.