§ 21. Mrs. Castleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether inter-racial schools in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland are a territorial or a Federal responsibility.
§ Mr. ProfumoSuch schools would not be specifically the responsibility of the Territorial Governments or of the Federal Government.
§ Mrs. CastleCan the Under-Secretary help us in this little dilemma? Is he aware that the Federal Minister of 1562 Education, Mr. Julian Greenfield, said in May that the Federal Government had no intention of introducing interracial education in the schools? What would be the position if one of the Territorial Governments, having more interest in the policy of racial co-operation and integration than has the Federal Government, wished to make a start with an inter-racial school? Would it be empowered to do so under the Constitution?
§ Mr. ProfumoThere are provisions in the Constitution for delegation whereby it would, I think, be possible for either the Federal Government or a Territorial Government to take the necessary responsibility in relation to multi-racial schools, if both Governments were agreed.
§ Mrs. CastleDoes that mean that the Federal Government would always have the power of veto if the Territorial Government wish to take the initiative in this very important aspect of multiracialism, which we all want to see? Does the hon. Gentleman's answer mean that the Federal Government would veto this?
§ Mr. ProfumoI said, providing both Governments agreed. There is to be a review of the Constitution in 1960, and this seems to me to be just one of those matters which could then be written into the Constitution.