asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he will make a feasibility study for an airfield on the island of Anegada to serve the British Virgin Islands;(2) if he will sponsor the operation of a hovercraft to improve communications between the various Virgin Islands.

The Colonial Office and the Ministry of Overseas Development are studying the question of communications within the British Virgin Island group and between the group and adjacent territories. This study is covering airfield requirements as well as the possibility of using hovercraft but we are not yet in a position to decide whether a feasibility study of airfields—including Anegada—and trials of a hovercraft are called for.