§ 7. Mr. Fenner Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have now been taken by the Kenya Government to introduce the necessary economic and social reforms.
§ 31. Sir R. Aclandasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about any new 2061 measures designed to accelerate the improvement of economic conditions for Africans in Kenya and particularly for members of the Kikuyu tribe; and whether it is proposed that Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom should make any financial grant to the cost of any measures which may be proposed for such purpose.
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Oliver Lyttelton)In the answers given to the hon. Member for Cannock (Miss Lee) on 20th January and to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Alport) on 18th February, I described briefly the action being taken by the Kenya Government in these spheres. That action covers, of course, all parts of Kenya. Her Majesty's Government are already contributing considerable sums through grants under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act.
§ Mr. BrockwayAs it is now universally recognised that social and economic grievances have fed the Mau Mau movement, and as conditions have become worse because of the confiscation of cattle and the lifting of Kikuyu workers from European farms—
§ Mr. SpeakerThis seems to be going rather beyond the Question on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. Brockway—will the right hon. Gentleman urge the Kenya Government to put into operation the proposals he himself mentioned in the House as being under consideration?
§ Mr. LytteltonTwo pamphlets have been issued by the Kenya Government which give a lot of information on this point. I will have them put in the Library, and I hope that from their study the hon. Member will find answers to some of his questions.
§ Sir R. AclandCan the right hon. Gentleman say what is the C.D. & W. contribution which he mentioned and whether that has been increased by any decision taken since this emergency began? More serious still, have we not to recognise that we cannot deal with this problem in Kenya unless we propose to take steps which will involve costs to the British taxpayers and the white settlers far in excess of the C.D. & W. contributions?
§ Mr. LytteltonI will not trouble the House with all the figures, but I shall be glad to send them to the hon. Member. Of course, any requirements
§ Mr. LytteltonAs the hon. Gentleman knows, the allocation has already been made and no further applications have been received. The Government will be prepared to consider any further financial grant when the time comes.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerCan the right hon. Gentleman say, approximately, what is the total of the grants? Did I understand him to say that the Government are ready to make a further grant if an application comes along?
§ Mr. LytteltonI did not give any such undertaking. I said that we would consider sympathetically any further application. As the right hon. Gentleman presses me, the actual sums are £3,657,000 in Kenya, all allocated to schemes and £2,186,000 actually issued; East Africa Regional, £3,630,000; locusts, £430,000; and Makerere University, £1,250,000, making a total of £5,310,000.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIn view of the very grave circumstances to which my hon. Friend has called attention, will not the Government now say that they are prepared to make a further grant?
§ Mr. LytteltonI have no power to do that, nor has any application for further money been received from the Kenya Government. I can only repeat that when the time comes the Government will be willing to look at any application with sympathy.