HC Deb 21 April 1937 vol 322 cc1735-7
25. Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any African will represent Kenya at the Coronation; whether representatives of that Colony have yet been appointed, and, if so, who; what representations have been made to him from any associations on behalf of Kenya Africans; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

27. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the petition addressed to him from representatives of the Kikuyu in Kenya Colony which requests permission to send a representative to the Coronation, even at their own expense; and whether His Majesty's Government will consider the desirability of responding to this expression of loyalty by inviting several representative Africans, of whom one shall be a Kikuyu of Kenya Colony?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

As indicated by me in the replies given to questions by the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher) and the hon. Member for West Walthamstow (Mr. McEntee) on 24th February, following the precedents adopted at the Coronation of His late Majesty King George V, the Governors of the larger Colonial Dependencies were invited to nominate two, and those of the smaller Dependencies one person to represent the general community of their territories as distinguished visitors. The qualifications which it was considered desirable that these persons should possess were described in my answer to the question put by the hon. Member for West Walthamstow. The late Governor of Kenya nominated for this purpose Lieut.-Colonel Lord Francis Scott and Captain Eric Schwartze, both of whom are senior elected members of the Kenya Legislative Council, and have been members of the Kenya Executive Council. With regard to representations received on behalf of the Kikuyu in Kenya, I cannot trace having received any petition; but I recently received a communication from the secretary of the local Kiambu branch of the Kikuyu Central Association, stating that this association had appointed a gentleman to represent them at the Coronation. I have not seen my way to take any action on this communication.

59. Mr. Sorensen (for Mr. Woods)

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether arrangements have been made for the rapid removal of the Coronation structures as soon as the Coronation is over, in order that overseas visitors may have an opportunity of seeing London without these disfigurements?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. R. S. Hudson)

(for the First Commissioner of Works): Commencement will be made with the removal of the stands generally, immediately after Coronation Day, except in the case of some which it may be desirable to retain in connection with other Coronation ceremonies, and demolition will proceed as quickly as possible.

Mr. Sorensen

How long will it be before the turf can resume its original appearance?

60. Mr. Sorensen (for Mr. Woods)

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether arrangements have been made for the rapid planting of grass on the sites in the courtyard of the House of Commons, in Parliament Square, and elsewhere, which have been covered by seats and stands for the Coronation, as soon as the Coronation is over?

Mr. Hudson

All the areas upon which stands have been erected will be sown with grass seed as soon as the stands have been removed. It is expected that a considerable proportion of the turf will revive, and this, together with the sowing of seed will, it is hoped, if weather conditions are not unfavourable, cause the areas affected to regain much of their normal appearance before the end of the summer.

Mr. Sorensen

Do I understand that seed will be used instead of turves?

Mr. Hudson

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Sorensen

Then will the grass be very presentable to our Coronation visitors?

Mr. Hudson

This way will be much quicker.

76. Mr. Sorensen (for Mr. Woods)

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether an estimate has been made of the expenses which will have to be covered by His Majesty's Exchequer in connection with the Coronation?

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Lieut.-Colonel Colville)

The estimated expenditure from public funds in connection with the Coronation is £689,400. This amount consists of £454,000, being the total of the Votes for the Coronation in 1936 and 1937, £17,400 on the Votes for the Mint, and £218,000 on Defence Votes.