HC Deb 13 July 1949 vol 467 cc410-1
10 and 11. Mr. Skinnard

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) in view of the undesirability of Kenya and Northern Rhodesia becoming Afrikaans-speaking colonies, whether he will discourage the official provision of special language schools for the children of South African settlers of Dutch descent;

(2) in how many cases special provision is being made from public funds for the maintenance of Afrikaans-language private schools in Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Tanganyika and Kenya.

Mr. Rees-Williams

Grants-in-aid are provided for one Afrikaans-language private school in Tanganyika and one in Nyasaland. The official provision of special language schools is where possible avoided and my right hon. Friend sees no necessity for the action suggested by my hon. Friend.

Mr. Skinnard

Will the Minister take active steps to discourage any departure from the position of English being the normal channel of language communication in British colonies?

Mr. Rees-Williams

I do not think that there is any need for discouragement. This is the accepted standard.