§ 19. Mr. Fenner Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the son of Mr. Veljee Devshi has been excluded from the Government Primary School for Europeans in Nairobi after having attended St. Mary's School, Finchley, and Beckford Primary School, Hampstead, to the satisfaction of the teaching staff.
§ Mr. LytteltonAs I told the hon. Member in my letter of 14th October, schools in Kenya are at present organised by race and it is not the practice for an Asian to be admitted to a European school any more than it is for a European to be admitted to an Asian school.
§ Mr. BrockwayDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is desirable in education and other spheres to end the colour bar completely, and that one of the most effective means of doing this would be to allow a child who has been in English schools in this country to go into an English school in Nairobi when he returns there?
§ Mr. LytteltonI think the hon. Gentleman knows what my sentiments are in this matter; that these are highly desirable objectives.
§ Mr. HaleWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the colour bar, and, if the Government have one, what they propose to do towards its implementation?
§ Mr. LytteltonOur difficulties are very much those of the last Government in these matters. It is desirable to remove these discriminations, but one cannot proceed either at one's own pace or at that of hon. Members opposite.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that there is a psychological and moral factor—a non-economic factor—which has some relationship to Mau Mau?