§ 114. Mr. Skinnardasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans have been made to train local civil servants to fill the highest administrative and technical posts, as demanded by the Federation of British Civil Servants Associations in the Caribbean area in 1944 and again in March, 1946.
Mr. Creech JonesA special allocation of £1,000,000 has been set aside for the training of inhabitants of the Colonies to qualify them for higher posts in the Colonial Service. The Comptroller for Development and Welfare in the West Indies proposes to allot further funds for training purposes in the West Indies
§ 115. Mr. Skinnardasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will appoint a commission to visit the separate Colonies in the Caribbean area to consider the existing conditions of service of Government servants and to make recommendations for reorganisation, with a view to establishing a unified service.
Mr. Creech JonesIt is generally agreed to he desirable that, so far as is feasible, the Government services of the West Indian Colonies should be unified, and I 127W have already had under consideration the question of setting up a commission of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend. But this problem is very closely bound up with the wider question of the closer association of the Colonies concerned, and as at present advised, I feel that it would be undesirable to appoint a commission in anticipation of the results of the conference which, as I said in reply to a Question on 3oth October, it is hoped to convene as soon as practicable in order to consider what practical steps can be taken to achieve closer association between those Colonies. The possibility of unifying the Government services of the West Indian Colonies will clearly be an important matter for consideration by that conference.
§ Mr. Skinnardasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the conference of the Federation of Civil Service Associations in the Caribbean area, held in March, 1946, recorded a protest at the deviation of West Indian Governments from British announced intention to give priority to West Indians in making appointments to senior Civil Service posts; and if he will take steps to ensure that such posts are filled by local candidates wherever possible.
Mr. Creech JonesI have received a Memorandum containing resolutions made by the Federation at its Conference held in February and March, 1946, from one of which I observe that the
Conference views with concern the deviation of Governments from their announced intentions of giving priority to West Indians in making appointments to the Senior posts in the services in this area.It is not clear to what announcement of intentions the resolution refers, but it has, I understand, long been the policy of the West Indian Governments in making appointments to senior Civil Service posts to give full consideration to West Indians wherever possible. These Governments will adhere to that policy.