§ 23. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Kenya Government now propose to implement the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Land in East Africa that the Highlands in Kenya should no longer be subject to exclusive occupation by white settlers but should be available for African farming under proper safeguards.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Kenya Government's position in this matter remains as stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 14th November, 1957.
§ Mr. StonehouseWill the Secretary of State tell us what are the objections to the White Highlands being developed?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAs I told the hon. Gentleman then, last November, the Royal Commission expressly linked the reservation of African land and the reservation of European land as being two aspects of the same problem of reservation. In its view, therefore, action in one field would not be proper without action in another. That raises a great many very important issues.
§ Mr. J. JohnsonIs not it a fact that leading white settlers like Mr. Lipscomb, Mr. Mackenzie and Mr. Michael Blundell are in favour of opportunity being given to a number of African farmers, on the basis of good husbandry and good farming? Would not the right hon. Gentleman listen to those leaders of white opinion in the Colony itself?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI have seen with great pleasure the statement made by the Minister of Agriculture and others. I realise that more people are beginning to see that this is an agrarian rather than a political problem.