§ 11. Major Wilkesasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider recruiting for permanent service in the peacetime Navy coloured colonial person- 310W nel in the United Kingdom and within the Empire who may wish to serve; and whether he will amend the conditions for entry in the Service which at present exclude anyone of non-European descent and which constitute an official colour-bar against entry.
Mr. Dugdale:While I have every sympathy with the object which my hon. Friend seeks to achieve, I feel sure he will appreciate that a decision of this character must await the return of my right hon. Friend. Quite apart from this I very much hope, however, that in any case developments in Imperial defence will provide opportunities of service at sea for coloured colonial personnel in local Naval defence forces.