§ 8. Mr. H. Clarkasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much money was spent in 1962 on geological survey in Swaziland, Bechuanaland and Basutoland, respectively.
§ Mr. FisherDuring the financial year 1962–63, £57,000 was spent on geological survey in Swaziland and £59,000 in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. In Basutoland, a preliminary survey costing £4,000 was approved only last month.
§ Mr. ClarkI thank my hon. Friend for that reply, but may I ask him to look at this matter again? Excellent work is being done in Swaziland and Bechuanaland, and it is rather remarkable that only now is £4,000 being spent in Basutoland. That is a matter for considerable comment in Basutoland.
§ Mr. FisherI quite agree with my hon. Friend—this is why we have undertaken this preliminary survey. These two Government geologists have now arrived in Basutoland. I think that it will take them about six months to make a report and, if the results justify it, I hope that this work will be extended.