§ Mr. GOULDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Committee to be set up by the Colonial Office will be able to consider the results of the working in the past of the Departmental system of railway con- 1062W struction and of private enterprise in our African Colonies, or whether its deliberations will be confined merely to a general review of the principles underlying such alternative construction?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative: the second part, therefore, does not arise.
§ Mr. GOULDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is any objection, and, if so, what, when any railway contructional work is undertaken Departmentally, to arrange that the Crown agents or their consulting engineers shall obtain private tenders for the same work, so that the public may be assured that the undertaking is being carried out on the most economical lines?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe Committee which has recently been appointed to report on questions of railway construction in Tropical Africa will be asked to take the hon. Member's suggestion into their consideration.