§ 37. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in respect of the current Budget proposals for Tanganyika, what is the estimated amount of development expenditure during the coming financial year and the estimated expenditure on Government salaries; and how these sums compare with the expenditure during the previous financial year.
§ Mr. J. AmeryThe Tanganyika Budget does not show development expenditure separately, and no estimate is available for the amount of recurrent expenditure falling within this classification.
Capital expenditure, of which most can be classed as development expenditure, for the financial year 1959–60, is estimated, in round figures, at £4 million, as compared with £6 million for 1958–59.
Expenditure on salaries for 1959–60 is estimated at £8.3 million against £8.1 million for 1958–59.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in the Budget debate Mr. Julius Nyerere, the Leader of the Elected Members, deplored the fact that this expenditure had been cut by about £2 million at a time when official salaries were going up, and suggested that there 1513 should be a cut in both African and European official salaries? Will he consult the Elected Members of the Legislative Council to see whether more money cannot be obtained for urgent development by means of economies in less essential expenditure?
§ Mr. AmeryThe cuts in capital expenditure reflect, mainly, a drop in primary commodity prices, and it is very difficult to overcome the implications of that. They also reflect, in some cases, the completion of certain large-scale projects. I do not think that it would be in the interests of the territory at this stage to reduce the quality of the technical assistance that they are receiving from their civil experts.