§ 36. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken by the Government of Kenya in accordance with paragraph 30 of Sessional Paper 8 of 1945 to investigate the opportunities available for local Indians without unduly competing with the legitimate aspirations of the African population.
Mr. Creech JonesI am inquiring what progress the Government of Kenya has made in these investigations and will let my hon. Friend know the result.
§ Mrs. Jean MannCan my right hon. Friend give us any assurance, in view of the apprehension felt by British nationals in Kenya, that exploitation by a more developed race against a less developed race is not taking place?
Mr. Creech JonesThat supplementary question hardly arises on this Question, which is concerned with the opportunities for local Indians competing with the legitimate aspirations of the African population.
§ Mr. RankinMay I take it that my right hon. Friend can assure us that in our concentration on the problems of the Africans and the white settler the intermediate position of the Indian will not be overlooked?
Mr. Creech JonesIt will certainly not be overlooked, and has not been overlooked in the shaping of policy in regard to land, housing and education.
§ 37. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken by the Government of Kenya to provide increased accommodation for the Indian urban population in accordance with the policy stated in Sessional Paper No. 8 of 1945.
Mr. Creech JonesNairobi and Kisumu Municipalities have carried out public Asian housing schemes. A housing society has built a block of flats at Mombasa for poor Asians. Indians will also benefit from housing societies which the Government of Kenya and some local authorities are forming for their employees.
§ Mrs. MannHas my right hon. Friend any plan for preventing exploitation of the Africans by the Indians?
Mr. Creech JonesAll I can say, in reply to that question, is that we are pursuing a social policy which is to the advantage of the Africans as well as of the Indians. All safeguards are provided in that policy to prevent exploitation of any one community by another.
§ 39. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reports have been made by the Indian and Arab Settlement Board in Kenya on the demand for Agricultural Settlement amongst local Indians; whether any land is being made available for settlement by Indians and with what assistance from the Government of Kenya.
Mr. Creech JonesSo far as I am aware no report has yet been made by the Board on this matter but I am making inquiries and will inform my hon. Friend of the result. I understand that the Board has 1187 conducted several investigations and has found one area which may be suitable for Indian settlement.
§ Mr. RankinMay I assume that, while we agree that Indians should be excluded from the African reserves, nothing will be done to exclude them from the White Highlands.