§ 43. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the prisoners held in Saiyusi Island, Lake Victoria, are convicted criminals or detainees; and how the rate of 8s. per month paid to them for a 42-hour week, compares with that paid for work of a similar nature in the district in which the camp is situated, due allowance being made for the value of housing, rations, and clothing supplied by the detention camp authorities.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThey are detainees. The cash wage of 8s. a month is related to the average gross monthly emoluments for agricultural labour which are 55s. The value of rations, clothing and necessaries and time spent on the maintenance of the camp, for which no payment is due, is assessed as 30s., 6s., and 11s. a month respectively.
§ Mr. RankinIs the Secretary of State aware that there are 11,000 homeless families in the Kikuyu reserves who are dependent on the earnings of these people detained on Saiyusi Island? Does he consider that the amount these prisoners can remit is sufficient to enable those people to live even on a low standard? Do the Government make any arrangements for their well-being?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think that the hon. Member should know that the families concerned are not dependent wholly on any remittances from the men concerned, but considerable responsibility obviously falls on the tribes to whom these people belong.
§ Mr. RankinIf the families are not dependent on husbands and fathers, on whom are they dependent if the right hon. Gentleman is doing nothing in this matter?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe hon. Member is inclined to assume that practices which prevail in the United Kingdom also obtain in tribal areas in Kenya.