§ 42. Mr. Brockwayasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what conclusions have been 1351 reached on the recommendations of the Griffin Report on transport development in Swaziland.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. C. J. M. Alport)The main recommendations concerning roads made in the Griffin Report of 1956 have been accepted by the Swaziland Government. A road programme, estimated to cost rather more than £1 million over three years, has been put in hand.
The recommendations on railway development are being carefully examined by the Swaziland Government, but no conclusion has yet been reached.
§ Mr. BrockwayWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for that information, may I ask what are the recommendations about railways, in view of the fact that there is no railway line in the Protectorate at the present time?
§ Mr. AlportThe hon. Gentleman may not be aware that the Griffin Report, although still a confidential document, is available in the Library, and therefore the hon. Gentleman will be able to ascertain the form of the recommendations made in the Report by reference to it.
§ Mr. P. WilliamsCan my hon. Friend give any indication when a conclusion will be reached about railways, because the matter has been talked over for a considerable number of years?
§ Mr. AlportI cannot at the present moment, but my hon. Friend will realise that the importance of this form of development to the future of Swaziland is very great, and therefore it is most important that the Swaziland Government should have full time to consider the problems raised in the Griffin Report.