§ 41. Mrs. Castleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what conclusions have been reached in the discussions between the Government of Kenya and the Nairobi City Council with regard to the building of African houses.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. John Profumo)One thousand four hundred houses are being built under Kenya Government supervision on behalf of the Nairobi City Council. The first 200 of these will be ready for occupation by mid June, and the scheme should be complete by May, 1959. The City Council is preparing plans for a further 600 to 700 houses and propose to place the contract themselves.
§ Mrs. CastleIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this Answer is quite unsatisfactory? Is not it a fact that discussions have been going on ever since 1955 about the building of 5,000 houses for Africans in Nairobi and that this has been described by Mr. Atkinson, the housing adviser in the Colonial Office, as being the worst housing problem in East Africa? Will he say when he expects the 5,000 houses are to be built, and will he place in the Library a copy of Mr. Atkinson's report on the housing situation of Africans in Kenya?
§ Mr. ProfumoThe hon. Lady has asked a lot of supplementary questions, but I appreciate that she feels very strongly about this. First, I will consider placing a copy of the report in the Library. Secondly, the target of 5,000 still stands, as far as I am aware, but it may take some time. Thirdly, I think we ought to recognise that this problem, although it is a very big one, must be basically a problem for the Council, but the fact that the Government have taken power in a novel way, as I think the hon. Lady knows, in helping with this housing drive shows the Government's appreciation of the housing needs of Africans in Nairobi.