HC Deb 16 October 1952 vol 505 cc38-9W
Miss Ward

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what opportunities were afforded to women's organisations to meet him and his Under-Secretaries during recent visits to Colonial Territories.

Mr. Lyttelton

In West Africa I had a full programme of consultations with Ministers and Members of Legislatures, and I was never more than two days in the same place. Unfortunately I therefore met only a few representatives of local organisations and none specifically concerned with women's interests.

In South-East Asia no requests for meetings were received from women's organisations.

My Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State when in the West Indies made his time freely available for talks with members of the public and representatives of organisations, including one women's organisation in Trinidad.

The programme arranged for the visit of the Minister of State to Central Africa did not include separate talks with members of women's organisations but many women attended meetings at which he spoke.