§ 39. Mr. J. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what funds are made available by the Government of Nyasaland for social welfare and development, including mass education; whether a separate department exists for such purposes; and what progress is being made.
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Oliver Lyttelton)There is no separate department for social welfare in Nyasaland. Social welfare work, in which both official and voluntary social workers take part, is carried out by the Provincial and District Administration and Government Departments. It is not possible to isolate a figure of total expenditure in this field. In spite of financial limitations, quite good progress has been made in the last few years, but the Nyasaland Government is well aware that much remains to be done, both in rural and urban areas.
§ Mr. HyndCan the Secretary of State tell the House why there is no special department in Nyasaland for this purpose, when I gather that a similar department exists in other African Colonies? Has such a department been considered, and can the right hon. Gentleman promise to give us some information as to actual work that has been done, particularly in regard to mass education?
§ Mr. LytteltonI am quite prepared to see what I can do to give further information about that. The reason why a department of social welfare has not been set up is that the finances are very limited, and the expenditure incidental to the establishment of a new department would use up money which we think would be better used for direct work.