HC Deb 25 July 1951 vol 491 cc462-3
40. Mr. Geoffrey Cooper

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what periodical inspections are made by his Department into the running of the hostels used by colonial students in this country.

Mr. Cook

Visits are made by officers of my Department and my right hon. Friend is in frequent consultation with the British Council about the running of the hostels for which they are responsible.

Mr. Cooper

Would my hon. Friend not agree that it is extremely important that these hostels should be run by responsible people in the interests of these students? If I bring to his notice a case where some one who is in control of one of these hostels is alleged to be a Communist, will he have it looked into in view of the information already in his possession to the effect that students have been brought over from West Africa to Eastern Berlin under Communist sponsorship?

Mr. Cook

If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of the case to which he refers, I am quite prepared to look at it.