Legislative Council (African Representatives)

HC Deb 28 May 1952 vol 501 cc1333-4

5. Mr. Fenner Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the resolution of the Kenya African Union protesting against the retention of the nomination system for African representatives in the Kenya Legislative Council and the decision of members of the Union not to accept nomination, he will reconsider his decision not to instruct the Kenya Government to introduce an electoral system for African representation.

Mr. Hopkinson

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not propose to alter the arrangements for the appointment of the Legislative Council in 1952. Although in form the African members of the Legislative Council are nominated there is a considerable measure of popular choice in their selection.

Mr. Brockway

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the decision as the population of 30,000 Europeans has 14 elected members on the Legislative Council in addition to 25 ex officio members, while the population of five million Africans has no elected representative at all? As the Legislative Council is to appoint a committee to prepare future constitutional arrangements, is it not desirable that there should be Africans upon it?

Mr. Hopkinson

The former Colonial Secretary, in a statement which he circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT in May last, reported that he had discussed the future constitutional development of Kenya with those concerned and proposed that within 12 months of the beginning of the life of the next Legislative Council—that is to say, within 12 months of the end of May this year—a body should be set up to consider what constitutional changes should be made, and he said that there would be no major constitutional changes in 1952. That is the position which my right hon. Friend has accepted and carried on. In any case, as the Council is to meet in the course of the next few days, it would be quite impracticable to make any arrangements for any other system of nomination.

Mr. Hale

Can the right hon. Gentleman say that there will be no change of policy in this matter, at any rate in the way of going back on the undertaking given by my right hon. Friend?

Mr. Hopkinson

Yes, Sir.