§ 75. Mr. Skinnardasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many administrative appointments have been made in West African Colonies during the past year; how many appointments have been made in the technical departments during the same period; and what steps are being taken to increase the numbers and improve the status of civil servants in the technical departments.
Mr. Creech JonesSince 1st January, 1947, 358 appointments have been made by the Colonial Office to the West African territories, of which 108 were to the Colonial administrative service. It is, of course, for the Colonial Governments to decide the relative numbers of officers required; the establishments of the technical departments have in most cases been considerably increased since the war. As regards the last part of the Question, my hon. Friend will be aware that the salaries of all officers in West Africa have recently been substantially improved, and340W the salary scales of engineering, educational, agricultural, forestry, veterinary and other technical departments are the same as those of the administrative services.