HC Deb 10 March 1960 vol 619 cc609-10
19. Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he is recruiting citizens of the Union of South Africa as European inspectors of police for service in Northern Rhodesia.

Mr. Iain Macleod

British subjects with suitable qualifications and experience are recruited as inspectors of police by the Government of Northern Rhodesia from the United Kingdom, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and the Union of South Africa, to fill vacancies in the force.

Mr. Stonehouse

When the Colonial Secretary goes to Northern Rhodesia, will he look at this matter, since it could provide quite a lot of unrest to have Afrikaans-speaking apartheid-minded European inspectors of police?

Mr. Macleod

I think there is an immense amount of prejudice behind that supplementary question. These people are recruited in very small numbers, and I have no doubt that those who are recruited are wholly suitable for the tasks they have to perform.