Mr. David Adamsasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether information will be made available in this country on the development schemes for the West Indies which have been prepared by Sir Frank Stockdale and submitted to the Colonial Office; whether Lord Dufferin's Committee to consider these schemes has yet met; and, if so, what schemes have been approved and to what money value?
§ Mr. George HallAs regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 1st October. As regards the arrangements for the submission of applications from the West Indies for assistance under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act and for their consideration by the Colonial Development and Welfare Advisory Committee, I would refer my hon. Friend to replies which gave to the hon. Member for Shipley on 8th October and 28th January. Up to date 40 schemes for the West Indies have been approved, involving a total expenditure of £476,805. These schemes were all desalt with under the arrangements in operation prior to the appointment of the committee. The committee itself has made recommendations in respect of five further applications from the West Indies, but final approval has not yet been given in these cases.