§ 8. Mr. P. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the entry of African-elected members into the Government of Kenya.
§ Mr. AlportI am very glad to say that it has been agreed with the African Constituency Elected Members that four of their number will accept office in a Caretaker Government to be formed for the period remaining until the Lancaster House Constitution comes into operation. Three will be Ministers and one an Assistant Minister. All the African Constituency Elected Members under-took to support the African Ministers, who have now joined the Caretaker Government.
§ Mr. WilliamsIs my right hon. Friend aware that this is a most welcome development? Would he agree that there is, however, a degree of criticism of African Ministers who have taken office in that Government and then continued to criticise its policy? There must be collective Government responsibility in this matter. Will he go further and give an assurance that the present development, the present stage of constitutional advance, will be sufficiently long for African and other Ministers to acclimatise themselves to new and additional responsibilities?
§ Mr. AlportI am sure the House will wish to express its satisfaction at this development, which follows the successful conclusion of the Lancaster House Conference. I should have thought that if 171 there were any irregularities or unorthodoxy about the work of Ministers that would be largely due to unfamiliarity with the difficult problems Ministers have to face in a Parliamentary democracy. I am quite certain that these four African elected Members will have very good opportunity with their colleagues of learning of the problems of responsibility in a Parliamentary democracy during the period of the Caretaker Government.