§ 71. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent unemployment exists among demobilised West African soldiers; whether he is satisfied that there is no avoidable delay in the procedure of demobilisation in West Africa; and whether he intends to examine existing West African administrative machinery, with a view to augmenting the staff and speeding up the work.
Mr. Creech JonesNo precise figures are available of the extent of unemployment among demobilised West African soldiers. Although every soldier is given 305W the opportunity to register for paid employment, only some 60 per cent. have done so, the remainder having preferred to seek occupations for themselves. Of those registered about one-third have been found employment, but it may be assumed that a considerable proportion of the others have either returned to their former occupations as farmers or small
Colony. No. of soldiers demobilised. No. of soldiers who have registered for paid employment. No. of soldiers registered who have been found employment by the registering agents. * * Nigeria … … 89,761 56,137 17,056 Gold Coast … … 37,364 21,827 8,165 Sierra Leone … … 15,899 7,922 3,262 Gambia … … 3,000 1,250 400 * (The majority of the soldiers from each of the British West African Colonies were peasant farmers or small traders before they enlisted. They were not in paid employment before the war. Of the soldiers who have registered, many have already found paid work for themselves or returned to peasant farming without informing the registering agency; the continuing presence of a man's name on the register does not therefore, prove he is unemployed.)