§ Sir CROYDON MARKSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the scheme for colonising in British East Africa by ex-service men for the development of flax-growing has been approved by the Treasury; and whether arrangements can be speedily made to enable the coming season to be taken advantage of, and the services of the men who desire to enter upon that pursuit to be engaged for working upon the land that has been earmarked in East Africa for flax-growing purposes?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have been asked to reply to this question. The scheme referred to in the question of the hon. Member involved an expenditure which the Ministry of Labour was not prepared under the circumstances to take the responsibility of recommending. If the prospects are as good as claimed by the proposer of this scheme it should be possible to obtain financial support from other than Government sources; and I am informed that if a scheme of this kind making special arrangements for placing disabled officers and men were submitted to the Colonial Office, they would be willing, if satisfied with the nature and terms of the scheme, to urge the Governor of the Protectorate to grant land near a rail-way on preferential terms.