§ Mr. DAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give particulars of any alterations which have taken place in the conditions that 1989W prevail in the West African Colonial Service during the previous 12 months; has any recent decision been arrived at in consultation with the Governments of the Colonies for future regulations of this service; and will he give particulars?
§ Dr. SHIELSStrictly speaking, there is no general West African Colonial Service; but as far as possible, having regard to the varying importance of appointments in the different Colonies and Protectorates, and the different degree of responsibilities attaching to posts in various places, European officers appointed to the service of Nigeria, the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and the Gambia, receive similar treatment in regard to their salaries, pensions, passages and leave. The present main scales of salary were introduced in 1920, following upon a comprehensive inquiry undertaken by the Government of Nigeria, whose conclusions were adopted by the then Secretary of State and applied to the other Colonies. The present leave conditions and the revised pension ordinances were introduced at the same time. In 1924 the initial salaries for new entrants were lowered in some posts. Since then no substantial alteration has taken place, though revised and more favourable conditions applicable to officers with mixed service, partly in West Africa and partly outside of it, have been introduced. Minor alterations in the case of individual posts are of frequent occurrence.