§ 10. Mr. Bennasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the rejection by the Government of Kenya of the proposal made by the Royal Commission on East Africa, chapter 15, "African labour", paragraph 67, that land should be acquired for African village dwellings; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ProfumoAlthough the Kenya Government listed the various reasons why they could not accept this proposal in the form recommended by the Royal Commission, they also indicated the lines on which they are themselves investigating the present system of rural labour, which all are agreed is unsatisfactory. The Rural Wages Report, which is still being studied, is likely to bear considerably on the whole problem.
§ Mr. BennI am very grateful to the Minister for not circulating that reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT, but will he please answer the Question, which was whether the Government of this country would make a statement on policy, in view of the fact that the Royal Commission said that it regarded the present system as most unsatisfactory and suggested that it should be abolished? The Government of Kenya did not accept that view. I am asking the Minister for his view on the squatter situation in Kenya.
§ Mr. ProfumoI think that the hon. Gentleman and I are both keen to see the squatter system gradually disappear and be replaced by something more efficient.