HC Deb 18 December 1958 vol 597 cc1283-4
9. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Under- Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what economic surveys have taken place in Basutoland; and by whom have they been made.

Mr. Alport

I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the six surveys which hive been carried out between 1935 and the present day.

The reports on these surveys are available for consultation in the Library of the House.

Mr. Johnson

Would not the hon. Gentleman confirm today what he did not tell me on Monday night, namely, that there has never been a high-powered survey of this Colony? Would not he agree to send someone of the calibre, say, of Mr. Arthur Gaitskell, who has been to the Sudan, or Professor Lewis, of the University of Manchester, who knows the Colony and who would be able to give us something which we have not had in the past?

Mr. Alport

There have been six fairly thorough surveys, the details of which I will send to the hon. Gentleman. I cannot fully evaluate them, but I am sure they cover all the important aspects of Basuto economic development. I shall not, however, close my mind in any way to the necessity, perhaps, for an even more up-to-date survey of the economic potential of Basutoland in the near future, and I am perfectly prepared to consider that point.

Mr. Swingler

On a point of order. You will have noted, Mr. Speaker, the interest which has been shown by hon. Member in the affairs of Basutoland. Through you, Mr. Speaker, may I appeal to the Under-Secretary of State, for the sake of the dignity of the House, to reconsider what he said previously about making a statement on the constitutional issue so that hon. Members may have the opportunity to ask questions?

Mr. Speaker

I think that question has been raised before. There is nothing more I can do about it.

The following is a chronological list:

Report on the Financial and Economic Position of Basutoland, by Pim, 1935, Cmd. 4907.

An Ecological Survey of the Mountain Area of Basutoland, by Staples and Hudson, 1936.

Report on the Geology of Basutoland, by Stockley, 1947.

Basutoland Agricultural Survey, by Douglas and Tennant, 1950.

High Commission Territories, Economic Development and Social Services, 1955, Cmd. 9580.

Report on the Regional Development of the Water Resources of Basutoland, by Shand, 1956.