HC Deb 01 May 1957 vol 569 cc189-90
33. Miss Lee

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the result of the survey of the Great Falls, Mallali, on the Demerara river, which has been undertaken by Demerara Bauxite Company, with the permission of the British Guiana Government.

Mr. Profumo

Site investigations and engineering surveys have been completed and the company's principals in Montreal are now analysing the data.

Miss Lee

Will the Minister see, if this project goes forward, as we hope it will, that the Demerara Bauxite Company will not exercise racial discrimination either in housing or in wages and promotion? Is he further aware that very serious allegations have been made to me? I have no full means of checking them, but I should be very grateful if he would look into the facts to see if there is any racial discrimination.

Mr. Profumo

Perhaps the hon. Lady would be good enough to drop me a line and give me any evidence that she has. Meanwhile, I will look into the matter.

Mr. Kershaw

Is my hon. Friend aware that in the present operations of the Demerara Bauxite Company there is absolutely no racial discrimination whatever? The hon. Lady need have no fear that in future operations there will be any either.

Miss Lee

Is the Minister further aware that I have received information from several serious public representatives? I would therefore ask him to suspend judgment until he has all the facts before him.

Mr. Profumo

As the hon. Lady perhaps knows only too well from recent experience, the information one gets is not always accurate.

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