HC Deb 13 July 1961 vol 644 cc568-9
29. Mrs. Castle

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much of the additional finance promised to the Kenya ministerial delegation during its recent visit to London has now been made available to the Kenya Government in the form of loan and grants, respectively.

Mr. Iain Macleod

A grant of £750,000 has already been issued to support the 1960–61 Budget. Grants for this year's budget and grants and loans for development will be issued when required.

Mrs. Castle

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the impression has been given that Her Majesty's Government have been very generous towards the Kenya Government, and that the facts do not support this? Is he aware that a serious crisis is threatened in Kenya, arising from unemployment, which will be worsened by the prospect of a bad harvest, and that a crisis programme is urgently needed to deal with it, as it might prove to be worse than the Mau Mau emergency? Will he look into the matter again?

Mr. Macleod

I am sure that if the hon. Lady studies the figures, and, if she likes, I will send her complete breakdown, because this is a very complicated story, she will find that sums amounting to £10 million, as a result of the Ministerial delegation to London, have been put forward for Kenya's advance. They are now in the new financial year, and will call on this money as required.