HC Deb 04 October 1944 vol 403 c929
39. Mr. Sorensen

asked, the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that although there are 4,000,000 Africans, 27,000 Asiatics and 2,700 Europeans in Uganda, there are only four non-official members of the Council and no non-official members of the Executive Council, he will cause the whole question of non-official representation to be reviewed.

Colonel Stanley

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on this subject on 7th June.

Mr. Sorensen

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that it is about time that the 4,000,000 Africans had more non-official representation?

Colonel Stanley

I am very anxious that the hon. Member and the House should understand that Uganda is in a different position from some other Colonies in that a great part of the work there is done by purely African assemblies. I am not at all averse to a proposal of this kind if I were sure that it would not damage the existing system of African government.

Mr. Sorensen

Do I take it that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is giving sympathetic consideration to the possibility of more non-official representation?

Colonel Stanley

A new Governor has been appointed and I will discuss this with him before he goes out.