HC Deb 12 February 1947 vol 433 cc69-70W
86. Mrs. Middleton

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any action has been taken by the Government of Jamaica to abolish or curtail the activities of its Labour Department; and whether he is satisfied that labour relations in Jamaica are adequately handled.

Mr. Creech Jones

The staff of the Jamaican Labour Department has been reduced during the past two years because it was found by experience that labour conciliation activities were better conducted from headquarters in Kingston than from subsidiary offices in country districts. Those offices were therefore closed, but the Government of Jamaica has neither abolished the Labour Department nor curtailed its activities; and, so far as I am aware, the adequacy of the Department has not been affected.