HC Deb 13 July 1938 vol 338 c1349W
Captain P. Macdonald

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an annual report on the progress of each of the Crown Colonies is printed and filed in the Colonial Office; if so, whether prints of these reports can be made available in the Library for the use of Members; and will be arrange that the reports for 1938 are available before the Colonial Office Vote is taken next year?

Mr. M. MacDonald

Each Colonial Government issues an annual report on social and economic progress, which is printed and copies filed in the Colonial Office. I shall be glad to arrange for a set of these reports, commencing with those for the year 1937, to be placed in the Library for the use of Members. With regard to the last part of the hon. Member's question, I appreciate the importance of arranging for these reports to be prepared as speedily as possible; but I fear that it would not be practicable to require Colonial Governments to furnish their reports each year in time for publication before the Colonial Office Vote is taken.