§ 62. Mr. Rees-Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the two-year plan and the ten-year plan for the Colony's development recently referred to by the Governor of Sarawak in the Council Negri; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the indigenous people approve of and share in this development and its fruits.
Mr. Creech JonesIt has been decided to draw up a comprehensive 10-year development plan, and arrangements are in hand to obtain the necessary basic information about the territory and its people. Immediate plans include schemes for meeting the most urgent of the Colony's development and welfare needs, which can be integrated with the long-term plans. As regards the second part of the Question, in addition to the Council Negri, the divisional and district advisory councils, which have been established by the Governor on a widely representative basis, are fully consulted and are being kept informed of all aspects of development planning. Most of the individual schemes now under consideration are expressly designed to benefit producers and small holders and to raise the standard of living of the indigenous peoples, and care will be taken to see that their interests are fully safeguarded in other schemes.