§ Colonel DAYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Department is the responsible one for advising him whether Colonial railways should be constructed by his Department or by 454W private enterprise; is the opinion of the Crown Agents for the Colonies consulted; how many times during the last five years the Crown Agents have been consulted; and what was the advice given by them?
§ Mr. AMERYResponsibility for advising the Secretary of State on such questions rests primarily with the Colonial Government concerned. In appropriate cases the Crown Agents for the Colonies would also be consulted. During the last five years only one reference to the Crown Agents on this specific point has been made. In that instance, the Crown Agents recommended that the work should be carried out by contract, as the territory did not possess an organised railway construction department.