§ Mr. J. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any further announcement to make concerning the temporary employment of geologist and geodetic engineers in the Colonies as part of European Recovery Programme assistance to this country.
Mr. Creech JonesHis Majesty's Government have just been informed that the Economic Co-operation Administration has formally approved a project for American assistance to geological and topographic surveys in British territories. This project, which I made known to the House on 24th November, consists of the temporary employment of some 25 geologists and 24 to 30 geodetic engineers to assist the Colonial Geological Survey and the Directorate of Colonial Surveys 293W for two to three years. These appointments are, as I explained on 24th November in a Written Answer to a Question by the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Sir P. Macdonald), designed to fill gaps created by the break in training during the war years, which cannot be filled in the United Kingdom for the present.
The geologists would be engaged chiefly in basic reconnaissance surveys in Colonial areas where their services are most needed. Their work will form a part of the effort to make a basic geological map of the overseas territories of the United Kingdom by 1956. The geodetic engineers will be concentrated in East and Central Africa, some of them in areas where railway development may take place in the future, and where accurate topographic knowledge is therefore essential.
The salaries of these men will be found from E.R.P. funds and a sum not to exceed ․1½ millions has been allocated to meet estimated dollar expenditure on the project. The United States authorities have also stated that it will not be necessary in this case for His Majesty's Government to deposit equivalent counterpart sterling for this amount. The sterling expenditure on this project, that is, expenditure on local allowances, travel, kit and other incidentals, will be found from the Colonial Development and Welfare Vote and an equivalent sum transferred as appropriations in aid of that Vote from sterling held in the Special Account. A sum not exceeding £420,000 will be required for these purposes.
The United States authorities have agreed that the United States Geological Survey shall assist in the selection and recruitment of the geologists. My Geological Adviser will shortly visit the United States for consultations with the Head of the United States Geological Survey on the recruiting methods to be employed. Arrangements for the recruitment of geodetic engineers are not so far advanced and it is expected that difficulties will be encounted in recruiting suitable men in the United States.
The United States authorities have agreed that Canadians may be employed under this project and that their salaries may be found from E.R.P. funds.
294WI should like to take this opportunity of saying that His Majesty's Government have found that their requests for technical assistance have been met with the greatest sympathy by the United States authorities, who have gone to a great deal of trouble to make arrangements which harmonise with our own in this field of survey work and that we are most grateful for this offer of assistance.