§ Mr. J. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Report of the Commission to British Guiana and British Honduras will be made available to Members of the House.
Mr. Creech JonesThe Report has been published today and copies are available in the Vote Office. His Majesty's Government are greatly indebted to the Commission for this Report, which they regard as an important contribution to the problems of development in British Guiana and British Honduras.
The projects recommended in the Report are being studied and offer some assistance in dealing with the difficulties arising from unemployment and underemployment in the West Indian Islands. Large-scale emigration from the Islands however cannot be expected in the early stages. Further detailed research and investigation on the spot are needed before the major projects can be begun.
I have already received the preliminary comments of the Governor of British Guiana and the Officer Administering the Government of British Honduras on the Report. It is evident that the scale of the projects is beyond what the present resources of the two Colonies would enable them to undertake. Some of the projects are of a commercial character. The Report has already been brought to the notice of the Colonial Development Corporation.
As has already been announced, the Corporation has purchased a timber concession in British Guiana to form the nucleus of the larger timber developments which are now under joint investigation by the Corporation in co-operation with two timber companies. The Colonial Office will keep in close touch with the Colonial Development Corporation on this and other projects which the latter may undertake.
A number of the projects recommended by the Commission may be suitable for other forms of enterprise, and all encouragement will be given to facilitate developments beneficial to the Colonies concerned.
Certain of the recommendations involve substantial expenditure of public funds for research and the provision of 87W communications and various services. This matter is being examined and after consultation with the two Colonial Governments the intentions of His Majesty's Government will be made known. Where further investigations are an essential preliminary to development, these will be undertaken as quickly as possible. Priority will be given to those projects which appear to be more immediately practicable.