§ Major GLYNasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many separate firms have been negotiated with in regard to the contract to be made by the Government for the construction of the Uasin-Gishu Railway and the Thika Railway, in British East Africa; whether this undue delay is caused by the uncertainty of the financial situation in that territory caused by the arbitrary fixing of the value of the rupee; and why contracts cannot be put to public tender in the ordinary way or adequate explanation given as to the reasons that lead to special firms being invited to submit contracts?
Colonel WILSONOffers for the construction of the Uasin-Gishu Railway have been received from three firms. The intentions of the Protectorate Government with regard to the Thika extensions are not sufficiently matured to make any progress possible with regard to that line. As regards the negotiations in connection with the Uasin-Gishu Railway, I must refer to the answers given to the questions put by the hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Sir Robert Chadwick) on the 18th of May, and by the hon. Member for East Nottingham (Sir J. D. Rees) on the 14th of June. The change in the currency system in East Africa has had no influence on the discussion of these railway projects.