HC Deb 12 March 1952 vol 497 cc1372-3
29. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in addition to the report on differential racial treatment in the laws of British African territories, any report has been issued in respect of discriminatory administrative practices.

Mr. Lyttelton

Although the report already available in the Library is primarily concerned with legislation, it also covers administrative practices and gives instances of differentiation for which no legislative sanction exists.

Mr. Sorensen

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have scrutinised the document very carefully and that there is little reference in it to discriminatory administrative practices as such? Is there not a separate report dealing with that subject?

Mr. Lyttelton

I think there is no other report. This is the only one. I quite agree with the hon. Gentleman that the instances given are illustrative rather than comprehensive.

Mr. Beresford Craddock

Will my right hon. Friend tell the House, when a question on racial discrimination comes up for discussion, whether the phrase, "discrimination" means discrimination by the white against the black or discrimination by the black against the white?