§ 32. Mr. MacCollasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decision has been made about the future of the African Welfare Training Centre at Mindolo, Northern Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. J. AmeryThe Northern Rhodesian Government have decided to close the Centre in April, because demand for trained African welfare officers has dropped as a result of the current recession. The lease of the Centre however expires this year and replacement would cost at least £19,000. The Government are continuing to provide in-service training.
§ Mr. MacCollIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the fantastic nature of his reply —that because people cannot afford the money to have a social service, no social worker is to be trained? There has been no adequate social work done in Northern Rhodesia. Is he aware that, particularly in the Copper Belt, where the provision of schools is so inadequate, there could be no more improvident economy than that achieved by preventing the provision of social service work, presumably in order to spend more money on police and prisons?
§ Mr. AmeryThe last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question misrepresents the position. He will appreciate that during the "boom" there was an increased demand for welfare officers in industry. With the 1345 recession there has been a sharp fall in that demand. It is not right, either economically or financially, to produce welfare officers for whom there is no employment.