HC Deb 10 December 1952 vol 509 cc435-8
5. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now announce his plans for the future development of Kenya.

Mr. Lyttelton

It is not possible within the scope of Question and answer to cover an issue of this magnitude. I reported to the House on 7th November the plans of the Government of Kenya for development in many fields. I am also sending the hon. and learned Member a copy of addresses by the Governor and the Finance Member giving further detailed information to the Kenya Legislative Council.

Mr. Hughes

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for the documents he is going to send me, I should like to ask him, is it not a fact that the Government delayed eight months after receiving the expert and authoritative report of Sir Philip Mitchell, then the Governor of Kenya [HON. MEMBERS: "No."], asking for a Royal Commission, and is not that largely the cause of the present disturbances in Kenya? Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the economic causes underlying the present disturbances are resolved as soon as possible?

Mr. Lyttelton

The hon. and learned Gentleman is under an entire misapprehension on all these points. First of all, the original dispatch of Sir Philip Mitchell was concerned with the three East African territories and had to be submitted to the East African High Commission as a preliminary. There has been no avoidable delay since the final dispatch was received—I think in May, but I have not the exact date. Secondly, the hon. and learned Gentleman is also under an entire misapprehension when he ascribes any of the present troubles to this delay over the appointment of the Royal Commission.

Mr. Fenner Brockway

On a point of order. The White Paper to which reference has been made was handed to the Press last night; it is not available in the Vote Office; it is not even available in the Library, and when one asks for it one is told one must sign a green paper and in due course it will be provided. My point of order is this. Is it right that this document, of such an important character in the present crisis in Kenya, should be handed to the Press and that Members of Parliament should not be given opportunities of having it?

Mr. Speaker

I cannot answer that straight away. I will have to look into the facts. It may be that it is not a Parliamentary Paper, but that is a matter I should have to investigate.

Mr. Shinwell

Will it be permissible to ask the right hon. Gentleman why it is that the Press have been issued with a copy of this statement and yet it is not available to hon. Members.

Mr. Lyttelton

May I say that I am surprised if the Paper is not available in the Vote Office, because I gave instructions that it was to be put in the Vote Office. I will willingly look into any causes for the delay. I had some intimation that this was to be raised, and I was in communication with the Vote Office a few minutes ago.

Mr. Hale

On a point of order. Is it not the fact that it is not available in the Vote Office, not available in the Library and not available in the House, and that after today we shall have no chance of putting Questions on colonial affairs and on this important matter before the Christmas Recess—or, indeed, much before Easter; and that, therefore, this mistake will deprive us of discussing this whole matter unless some means can be devised of having a special debate upon this exceedingly important document?

Mr. Lyttelton

There will be an opportunity of putting a Question on the Paper for next Wednesday.

Mr. Speaker

I am afraid I cannot carry this discussion any further. I am not aware of the facts; I heard about them only this moment. I will look into it.

Mr. Benn

Is the Minister aware that when I rang his private office a few moments ago to ask about this I was told that they were not sure that there were any stocks of this document in the Colonial Office; and would he be a little more careful to see that a major document of this kind is made available to Members of this House? He really is treating the House with some discourtesy if he thinks we are not interested in this matter.

Mr. Lyttelton

I must deny any wish to behave discourteously in any way. I have given instructions that it was to be in the Vote Office, and I am quite willing to look into any reasons why the instructions have not been carried out.

Mr. Dugdale

Why could it not have been issued as an ordinary White Paper in the ordinary way so that it could have appeared in the Vote Office? Why should there be this particular difficulty about this particular Paper.

Mr. Lyttelton

There is no difficulty at all.

Mr. Dugdale

But it is not in the Vote Office.

Mr. Lyttelton

It is going to be in the Vote Office.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

We cannot carry this matter any further now. Clearly we do not know the facts about it.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Having regard to the serious issue of fact between the Minister and the rest of the House, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

Back to