asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of grants made, or about to be made, from the Colonial Welfare and Development Fund in respect of West African Colonies otherwise than on administrative or other large buildings; and what percentage this represents.

Mr. Creech Jones:

The total of schemes made or about to be made under the 1940 and 1945 Colonial Development and Welfare Acts in respect of West Africa is £15 million, of which rather over £3 million is in respect of major building programmes, and about £12 million, or 80 per cent., in respect of other schemes.

Is the Minister satisfied that this is a desirable proportion to expend on buildings? Is it not out of all proportion to the amount spent on public works?

Mr. Creech Jones:

Considering the amount of development work which has to be done, and the major public works which have to be put in hand, I do not consider it is too large a proportion.

Is the Minister satisfied that the provision of some of these buildings is as important as other work?

Mr. Creech Jones:

There has ben a considerable deficiency in the past two years If development work is to go forward, this work must be put in hand.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give details of the buildings and other development work on which these considerable sums have been spent? Will he consider issuing a White Paper?

Mr. Creech Jones:

I doubt whether that can be done, but I will see.