§ 20. Mr. T. Reidasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if it is his policy in the case of local government authorities in the Colonies to provide for a chief executive officer with administrative experience to be in charge of, and to co-ordinate, the activities of all branches of the work, and to advise the elected local councils and their committees.
Mr. Creech JonesThe development of local Government on sound lines is a matter of the utmost importance in colonial territories, and is receiving much attention in many of them. Conditions vary so widely, however, that it is impossible to lay down a single policy applicable in all territories. A number of territories have officers who advise and assist the development of local government bodies, and the subject is included in the training courses of men appointed to the Colonial Service. There is in the Colonial Office an Advisory Panel of Experts in local government in this country and there is a growing tendency in the Colonies to draw upon the wealth of experience of local government matters which is available here. I will again examine whether the proposal in the question can be applied further.