Secretary of State's Visit Wing (Hansard, 3 May 1960)

§ Mr. Iain Macleod

During my visit to Mauritius between 9th and 12th April I was able to tour the island and to meet representatives of all the most important groups and organisations in the Colony.

My first concern was naturally with the heavy damage caused by the two cyclones "Alix" and "Carol". My impression was that a first-class job of relief work had been done and that the urgent needs of the people for food, warmth, clothing, medical supplies and temporary housing had been swiftly and imaginatively met. The work had been done—and still is being done—not only by the Mauritius Government, local authorities and official bodies, but also by volunteers and voluntary organisations. While I was in Mauritius I was very glad to think that contributions had been made by private individuals and firms in the United Kingdom towards this essential work. At the same time I saw for myself that suffering and hardship still exist and that further help of this nature is still urgently needed.

The assessment of the amount of damage caused by the two cyclones and the preparation of reconstruction plans is now well advanced. When the reports of those who are assessing the damage 63W are complete, it is my intention to invite a Ministerial delegation from Mauritius to visit the United Kingdom to discuss with me the financing of its reconstruction plans. In the meantime it is obvious that a large-scale rehousing programme will be needed. I agreed therefore when I was in Mauritius that steps should be taken at once to set up the necessary building organisation and the administrative machinery required to deal with claims for housing. I also agreed in principle to the provision of funds to the Agricultural Bank to enable loans to be given for the repair of private buildings.

So much for the short-term problems of reconstruction. Attention is, however, also being paid to the long-term economic future of this small island whose population continues to increase so rapidly. While I was in Mauritius I was able to meet the Chairman and Members of the Economic Survey Mission and to discuss some of the problems with them. Their report is now eagerly awaited, together with the report of the inquiry into social insurance recently carried out in Mauritius by Professor Richard Titmuss and a team from the London School of Economics. When these two reports are available they should together form a valuable guide for future economic and social policy for the Colony.

As I said in Mauritius, although our first task in the Colony must be to concentrate on questions of reconstruction and economic development, Her Majesty's Government has no intention of neglecting the question of further constitutional advance in the Colony. I made it clear, therefore, that after the urgent economic decisions had been taken and after due preparation I would be prepared to meet a delegation from the Colony at a Constitutional Conference to plan the next stage of political development.

I was particularly glad to have the opportunity of being the first Secretary of State for the Colonies to visit Mauritius, where I have a number of close personal ties. What I saw and heard during my visit encourages me to believe that the close and friendly links between Mauritius and the United Kingdom will remain no less strong in the future than they have been in the past.