§ 31. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what projects the £25,000 recently given to further sport in Tanganyika by a private industrial concern will be used by the Government; and to what extent the Legislative Council has been consulted in any decision reached.
§ Mr. J. AmeryAn Appeals Committee set up by the Tanganyika Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Games Committee has received a very generous donation of £20,000 from De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd.
The donors have expressed the wish that the greater part of the gift should go towards the cost of establishing a sports stadium in Dar es Salaam and the remainder towards the establishment of a fund to pay the expenses of visiting 1512 coaches and teams. Both these items are among the declared purposes of the Appeals.
In these circumstances, the question of consulting the Legislative Council does not arise.
§ Mr. ThomsonWhilst appreciating the generous nature of this gift, may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman does not think that in regard to social expenditure of this size the Legislative Council should be consulted to see whether this kind of project fits in with the general social priorities of the country?
§ Mr. AmeryI understand that the Legislative Council approved of the aims of the Appeals Committee, and, indeed, the Speaker and Mr. Nyerere are both members of that Committee. Therefore, as the donation is towards the fulfilment of one of the aims of the Committee, I do not think it is really necessary to go back to the Legislative Council about it.