Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether any inquiries have been made into certain social questions in Nigeria and the Gold Coast; and what steps are being taken to stop the traffic referred to and to combat disease?
§ Mr. George HallI assume that the social questions referred to by my hon. Friend relate to certain allegations which appeared in the Press some months ago to the effect that traffic in women and children was taking place between Nigeria and the Gold Coast. The attention of the Governors of these two territories was drawn to these, allegations and they were asked for their observations. Their replies have not yet been received. I may, however, mention that in a report received from the Governor of the Gold Coast towards the end of 1940, it was stated that the police of those territories were collaborating to devise means, legislative or otherwise, to stop this traffic.