§ 61. Mr. Bottomleyasked the Under Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what proposals are being considered by the Government of the United Kingdom to assist in the economic development of Bechuanaland, Basutoland, and Swaziland and to increase the basic minimum and other wages in the three territories, in view of the recent statement of Dr. Verwoerd, Prime Minister of South Africa, on the subjects.
§ Mr. AlportIn reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer the right hon. Member to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mr. Page) on 1st August. Several projects for the economic development of the High Commission Territories are engaging my noble Friend's attention, but I am not in a position to inform the House of any new ones since that date.
In reply to the second part of the Question, it is the aim of Her Majesty's Government to do everything possible to improve the standard of living of Africans in the High Commission Territories. No minimum wage rates have been fixed, but the level of wages is comparable with that prevailing in the Union of South Africa.