§ Mr. Grenfellasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has examined all available information regarding the labour conditions and general social standards of workers in the African, West Indian, and East Indian Colonies with a view of promoting and safeguarding the health and security of native communities; and whether he will make an announcement of the Government's policy in regard to these matters?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to these matters was outlined in the Command Paper 5760 which was presented to Parliament last year in connection with the Colonial and Middle Eastern Services Estimates. It is impossible to make an adequate detailed statement on the matter in reply to a question, but stated briefly and generally, Colonial Governments are encouraged in every possible way to ensure that the conditions under which workers are employed are subject to adequate Government supervision and to satisfy them selves that all possible steps are taken 433W both by employers and by Government to safeguard the health and well-being of native labour. The necessary services of labour officers, medical officers and others are being steadily developed.