Mr Benjamin Riley: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister did not deal with the points in the Question; does he appreciate that this Question was on the Order Paper a fortnight ago and I refrained from putting it, in the hope that, in the meantime, the right hon. Gentleman would have some information of a definite character; and does he also appreciate that we want to know which horse we are...
Mr Benjamin Riley: In these appointments will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman bear in mind the desirability of selecting qualified Africans?
Mr Benjamin Riley: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he can make a statement as to the special functions of the Land Policy Committee in Jamaica which was set up under the chairmanship of Mr. A. J. Wakefield, the Inspector General of Agriculture, in January of this year, and which was announced by the Governor in a speech to the half-yearly meeting of the Jamaica Agricultural Society.
Mr Benjamin Riley: Will the Committee consider the leasing of land, as against purchase for private owners?
Mr Benjamin Riley: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement as to the actual kind of work which is being done by the British Council in the West Indies; whether the recommendations made regarding a central library service in the West Indies by Mr. F. D. Gray and Mr. Harold Stannard, who were employed by the British Council in Barbados, Trinidad, British Guiana and Jamaica...
Mr Benjamin Riley: Have the Purich Government any authority whatever in Yugoslavia?
Mr Benjamin Riley: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the unrest among the inhabitants of Mauritius due to increasing prices and a steep rise in the cost of living; whether he will consider the regulation of prices of essential commodities and also fix minimum wages in consonance with the increased cost of living.
Mr Benjamin Riley: Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether the increases correspond with the increased cost of living for workers in Mauritius?
Mr Benjamin Riley: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there are Government labour advisers now stationed in Kenya, Tanganyika, Northern Rhodesia and Uganda, respectively, who are fully qualified to advise on trade union and labour problems.
Mr Benjamin Riley: Are there any experienced trade unionists in these territories?
Mr Benjamin Riley: Is it the intention of the Minister to have such trade unionists sent there?
Mr Benjamin Riley: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Africans who have joined the Fighting Forces in Kenya, Tanganyika, Northern Rhodesia and Uganda, respectively; and whether he has under consideration any schemes for making suitable provision for these African volunteers when war terminates.
Mr Benjamin Riley: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act of 1940, £16,000,000 was provided for this work down to 31st March, 1944; that only £1,300,000 had been actually spent up to 23rd February; and will he give consideration to the possibility of utilising some of the unspent balance on acquiring land in the West Indies,...
Mr Benjamin Riley: Does not the hon. Gentleman think it very extraordinary that of the £16,000,000 voted under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, 1940, for the work up to March of this year, only £1,300,000 has been spent, and nearly £14,000,000 is unspent? Could not something be done to conserve that money for the purpose for which it was intended?
Mr Benjamin Riley: Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Motion for Adjournment.
Mr Benjamin Riley: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give favourable consideration in the near future to the co-operative marketing of colonial produce on the lines indicated in the Report of the West African Cocoa Commission, 1938.
Mr Benjamin Riley: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the current price for cocoa exported from Nigeria is £3per ton less than the price of exports from the Gold Coast.
Mr Benjamin Riley: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the total approximate sum approved for grants for schemes, under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act of 1940, for all the Colonies eligible for grants; and the approximate total amount actually spent on such approved schemes; (2) the total approximate sum granted for approved schemes under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act of 1940...
Mr Benjamin Riley: Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that under the Colonial
Mr Benjamin Riley: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that labourers in the Seychelles are being fined as much as half a month's wages for failing to produce their pass badges when requested by a policeman; that if they fail to pay the fine within one month they become liable to a week's imprisonment with hard labour; and will he have consideration given to this harsh administration.