§ 8. Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many natives and coloured people, respectively, are employed in Government service in Southern Rhodesia; in what grades are they employed; and what pensions are payable in each case?
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (Lord Stanley)I am not in possession of separate figures of native and coloured persons respectively employed in Government service in Southern Rhodesia, but the number of the non-European staff provided for in the Southern Rhodesia Estimates for the current year (excluding casual employés) amounts to 3,684. These include members of the British South Africa Native Police, messengers, interpreters, prison guards and other natives employed on miscellaneous duties. The grant of pensions and gratuities is governed by regulations issued in Government Notice No. 385 of 1932, which provide, on the usual conditions, for a pension at the rate of one-sixtieth of pay for each completed year of continuous service.
§ Mr. MathersAre both types covered in the same way?
§ 9. Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, seeing there are no secondary schools for coloured children in Southern Rhodesia, such children are admitted into secondary schools along with children of Europeans?
Lord StanleyI understand from the Governor of Southern Rhodesia that the schools for coloured children at Salisbury and Bulawayo provide secondary education to standard 7 which is equivalent to three years before matriculation standard, and that Government grants, covering the total cost of board and tuition, are also awarded to promising coloured children for further secondary education at Kimberley or Cape Town.
§ Colonel WedgwoodCan the right hon. Gentleman state the age to which coloured children are kept at school? Is it an elementary school or a secondary school?
§ Colonel WedgwoodCan they not provide some form of secondary education in Southern Rhodesia?
Lord StanleyI will call the attention of the Government of Southern Rhodesia to that point, but they meet it by sending promising coloured children to these schools at Kimberley and Cape Town.
§ Colonel WedgwoodThat is not much good.
§ 10. Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the old age pension rate for white people, coloured people, and natives, respectively, in Southern Rhodesia; and whether the coloured wife of a white man obtains the pension on the basis of her husband's qualification and race?
Lord StanleyThe maximum rate of old age pension which may be granted to a white pensioner under the Southern Rhodesia Old Age Pensions Act is £48 per annum. The corresponding rate in the case of a coloured pensioner is £24 per annum. The Act does not provide for the grant of old age pensions to natives. I have no information in regard to the point raised in the second part of the question, but I am informed that it may be assumed that such a case is seldom, if ever, likely to arise.
§ Mr. MathersDoes the Minister recognise that here is a possible refutation of the claim by the Dominions Office and the Colonial Office that there is no colour bar in British territory?
§ Mr. H. G. WilliamsMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has any legislative authority with regard to old age pensions in Southern Rhodesia?
§ Mr. GallacherDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the amount paid to old age pensioners in Southern Rhodesia is about double what is paid to old age pensioners in this country?
§ Mr. H. G. WilliamsOn a point of Order. May I ask the extent to which we are entitled to ask questions on matters which are within the competence of the Government of Southern Rhodesia and not within the competence of the Secreteary of State for Dominion Affairs?
Mr. SpeakerThe question on the Order Paper asked for information, but the supplementary questions have encroached upon questions which are solely the responsibility of Southern Rhodesia.