§ Sir P. Macdonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, when asking the American Economic Co-operation Administration to provide Americans to fill 50 vacancies in the colonial topographical, geodetic and geological surveys, he did not advertise for British surveyors, nor apply to British universities, the Royal Geographical Society, or any of the British air survey firms.
Mr. Creech JonesThe American Economic Co-operation Administration have been asked to provide 22 geologists and three chemists for short contracts of not more than three years to assist in carrying out geological work in colonial territories. These U.S. scientific officers are intended to fill temporarily vacancies in the establishments of the C.G.S.S. which cannot be filled by British candidates owing to the shortage caused by the break in training during the war. Every effort has been made, and is continuing to be made, to obtain the services of United Kingdom and Dominions geologists for permanent service with the Colonial Geological Survey Service. Contact with United Kingdom and Dominions geologists is maintained through the geological departments of the United Kingdom and Dominions universities, and through the Dominions appointments boards. Vacancies for particular posts are also advertised in the Press and scientific journals from time to time.
It has been made plain as a result of exhaustive inquiry that it will not be possible to fill the establishment of the Colonial Geological Survey departments until about the year 1952. The reasons for this are that this Service is being expanded to a complement of about 170 geologists by 1952 from a pre-1939 figure of about 50 geologists. Only first class geologists are acceptable and their supply is not sufficient to meet the demand of British interests generally.
The American Economic Co-operation Administration are also being asked to provide 24 to 30 geodetic surveyors to supply ground control for areas in the Colonial Empire for which air photography has already been taken by the R.A.F. or is now in progress. Every endeavour has been made to obtain British surveyors for this work and my 154W requirements for surveyors have been continually notified to the universities and the Services as well as to any learned or professional societies connected with this profession. It is not clear to me how the private Air Survey firms could have assisted in the supply of such surveyors.
§ Sir P. Macdonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how the emoluments to be offered to U.S. surveyors employed in British Colonies compare with those given to British surveyors.
Mr. Creech JonesThe Economic Cooperation Administration has yet to give final approval to the scheme for the employment of U.S. surveyors to which the hon. Member is, I think, referring. I would take this opportunity of correcting a reply I gave on Wednesday, 24th November, arising from the Questions of the hon. Members for Mile End (Mr. Piratin) and Orpington (Sir W. Smithers). Discussions will proceed with the Americans regarding the salaries and allowances to be paid to these men. It is proposed that salaries should be met by the U.S. Government out of E.R.P. funds in dollars and local allowances met from a special sterling account, but no final decisions have yet been taken.