HC Deb 27 April 1961 vol 639 cc598-600
5. Mr. Marquand

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he intends to implement in full the recommendations of the Morse Report on the economic development of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland.

Mr. Braine

I am not yet in a position to add anything to what was stated by my right hon. Friend in reply to a Question by the right hon. Gentleman on 23rd March, and to what I said in the debate on the Republic of South Africa Bill on Monday.

Mr. Marquand

Why is there this continual delay? The Morse Commission's Report was published much more than a year ago, and we have already heard from the Government that they have had promises of a very substantial contribution towards this plan from international agencies. Why cannot the Government now say whether they accept the whole Report in principle, even if they are not able to tell us the pace at which they will proceed with the detailed implementation of it?

Mr. Braine

The right hon. Gentleman and the House can be assured that we shall make an announcement as soon as a decision has been reached. I cannot be expected to name a date now, but I can assure the House that we are taking full account of the recommendations in the Morse Report and are actively considering ways in which they can be implemented. I should add, in view of what the right hon. Gentleman has said, that Commonwealth Development and Welfare funds have been made available already to enable the Director of Overseas Services to undertake further aerial survey work in all three Territories and, although this is not strictly a matter on which the Morse Commission reported, the right hon. Gentleman may be aware that we have approved increases in teachers' salaries earlier this year.

Mr. Marquand

In view of developments in South Africa generally, will the hon. Gentleman at least assure the House that his right hon. Friend regards the rapid economic development of the three High Commission Territories as the highest priority in the economic field for which he is responsible?

Mr. Braine

I can give that assurance.

6. Mr. Marquand

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will invite all independent members of the Commonwealth in Africa to join with the United Kingdom, through the Special Commonwealth African Aid Plan, in the rapid economic development of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland.

Mr. Braine

I do not think that the development needs of the High Commission Territories are of a type that could be met in this way.

Mr. Marquand

Are there not experts on administration and economic development generally in the independent countries in Africa whose services could be used most effectively? Would not this be a valuable way of introducing the kind of co-operation for which the special Commonwealth Aid for Africa Plan was designed? Would it not be to the mutual encouragement of the people of the three High Commission Territories and of the independent countries of Africa?

Mr. Braine

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, if we exclude South Africa from the category of nations which he mentioned, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone are themselves recipients of development aid from the United Kingdom, and we should not overlook any suitable sources of assistance. It is unlikely that the independent countries of West Africa, grappling with serious development problems of their own, will have resources to spare for the High Commission Territories, whose problems are different from theirs, and, where they are similar, the countries concerned have to give their own needs the first priority.

Mr. Marquand

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I am suggesting technical assistance, not capital assistance? Did we not have an assurance only the day before yesterday, when we debated the Department of Technical Co-operation Bill in the House, that technical assistance would be mutual wherever possible? Is this not an ideal opportunity, even if it is only the seconding of two or three Africans from the independent Territories to undertake this?

Mr. Braine

I think that the operative word is "ideal". If something like this could be done, no doubt it would be done, but there is an acute shortage in Africa of the kind of technical assistance which the right hon. Gentleman has in mind.