§ 8. Sir A. Hurdasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans he has for expediting and expanding the operations of the Land Settlement Board in Kenya and to take up European farms now offered for sale; and what response Kenya Ministers have had to their request to the International Bank to provide funds for the development of the new holdings for African yeomen farmers.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAs regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his Question on 9th March. The Kenya Ministers of Finance and Agriculture have just concluded discussions about the provision of funds with the International Bank. There is reason to believe that, subject to approval by the Bank's executive directors to the enactment by the Kenya Legislature of an Ordinance 6 authorising the proposed borrowing, and to the conclusion of Her Majesty's Government's guarantee of the loan, the Bank will be willing to lend up to £3 million.
§ Sir A. HurdThe House will be glad to know that, but are we pressing ahead fast enough with this land settlement scheme, which seems to provide an opportunity for giving more Africans a direct stake in the land as well as preventing many useful European farms from falling vacant, to the detriment of the Kenya economy? Are not we being cheeseparing in money, and are not we short of technical staff to advise the Africans who are going into these farms?
§ Mr. MacleodIt may be that the second alternative is true, rather than the first. I am anxious to press ahead with these schemes, but the staff is already fully stretched. A considerable amount of money has been and will be found for these schemes, to which I intend to give high and continuing priority.
§ Sir A. HurdCould not we lend some from this country?
§ Mr. MacleodWe already do that. Quite apart from the money lent by Her Majesty's Government, the Colonial Development Corporation has agreed, in principle, to a loan.
§ Sir A. HurdI am thinking of staff.