HC Deb 15 June 1938 vol 337 cc204-5
24. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Government expenditure on the education of natives in the African Colonies and Protectorates is little more than £2 per head for each pupil; and whether he proposes to adopt a plan of educational expansion both substantially to increase this expenditure and to provide universal education for all native children within the next five years?

Mr. M. MacDonald

I am not aware how the figure mentioned in the first part of the question is arrived at. As regards the second part, it is not possible to lay down with any confidence five-year programmes of development for Colonies which depend for most of their revenues on the world prices of primary commodities.

Mr. Sorensen

Does the right hon. Gentleman not recognise that the figures in this question are derived from the figures which he supplied to me; and does he not also recognise, in view of his confession yesterday of the neglect of this question by the Imperial Government, the necessity for an effort on his part to initiate an education programme?

Mr. MacDonald

If the hon. Member compares these figures, with those which I supplied to him, I think he will see that there is a wrong calculation somewhere. With regard to the rest of his supplementary question, of course there is a great deal of money spent in Africa on education besides that which is spent by the Government. It is the policy of the Government to develop education in the Colonies as far as we possibly can, in existing financial circumstances.

Mr. Sorensen

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that we should leave education in the Colonies to private charity?

Mr. MacDonald

I am not suggesting anything of the sort. The figures which I gave recently indicate that the Government are playing a considerable part.

Mr. Paling

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an expert in East African education has just calculated that, at the present rate of progress, it would take 3,000 years for all African children to get into school?

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