29. Mr. Dugdaleasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will state the number of Africans and Europeans, respectively, who have so far been accepted as students in the new university in Salisbury.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. C. M. J. Alport)The College Council have accepted four Africans and seven Europeans. They are considering applications from six Africans and forty Europeans for undergraduate courses and from three Africans and twenty-three Europeans for post-graduate courses.
Mr. DugdaleWill the hon. Gentleman impress on the university authorities the importance of all the students mixing together in every form of university life?
§ Mr. AlportThat is a different question.
§ 40. Sir L. Plummerasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the nature of the representations he has made to the Government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland concerning the planned segregation of Africans in the halls of residence in the University College of the Federation in view of the fact that a grant has been made from United Kingdom funds.
§ Mr. AlportNone, Sir. That is a matter for the College Council. In this connection, I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the statement made 381 by the principal of the college on the 30th April, 1956, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.
§ Sir L. PlummerAm I to understand from that answer that the Under-Secretary approves the system whereby one African woman who has entered this university is to be segregated in the halls of residence from the 22 European women who have entered the university? Does the Minister approve this segregation? Is it a good thing that the British taxpayer should support racial segregation of this kind?
§ Mr. AlportThe hon. Gentleman should read Dr. Adams' admirable statement on this matter, which will put him right on many of the matters mentioned in the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question.