§ Mr. MORGAN JONES(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Kenya, with the consent of the Colonial Secretary, have incurred obligations towards any person, group of persons, or limited company which may restrict the freedom of action of the Government in planning the development of the gold-fields in Kenya; and, if so, to give full particulars?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERFive-sixths of the goldfield remains closed, even to prospecting. In the open area a, number of claims have been registered and a few exclusive prospecting licences have been issued. These are subject to the rights and obligations of the Mining 183 Ordinances. No mining lease has yet been granted in any part of the field.
§ Mr. JONESAm I to take it from that answer that there is no departure by the Government from previous declarations made by Conservative and Labour Governments concerning the inalienable rights of the natives in that area?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI do not quite know what the hon. Member means; perhaps he will explore the matter a little further in the Debate. The gold is not vested in the natives but in the Government.
§ Mr. JONES(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government proposes to take into consideration the working of the gold in Kenya as a State enterprise, or alternatively, as a public-private company in which the Government would hold a majority of shares, before entering into any undertakings for the grant of mining leases to private persons or limited companies?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThis suggestion has already been considered. Apart from other considerations I think it will be generally agreed that it would be imprudent that the Government of Kenya should itself engage in so speculative an enterprise as gold mining, in a field moreover which is at present largely unexplored.