§ 59. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further progress has taken place in respect of the constitution of British Guiana; to what 178W extent wage levels have been raised during the past two years; what is the extent of unemployment or short-time; and what is the present attitude of the Government of British Guiana to the Federation of the West Indies.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe British Guiana (Constitution) (Temporary) (Amendment) Order in Council, 1956, was made on the 19th December. The first elections under the amended Constitution are due to be held in August this year.
Information on the recent movement of wage levels is not readily available in London, but I am looking into the position in consultation with the Governor and will write to the hon. Member.
With regard to unemployment or short-time, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which the then Minister of State gave to his Question on 25th April, 1956. The survey of unemployment and under-employment has just been completed and the report will he published later this year.
A statement was made by the Governor on 25th July, 1956, clarifying the position of British Guiana in relation to the Federation of the West Indies. He explained, inter alia, that the decision whether British Guiana should or should not apply to join the Federation can only be taken by British Guiana herself, but that an opportunity for making such application cannot now arise in any case for a year or two after the Federation has been established.