§ 15. Sir A. Hurdasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Governor of Kenya will start talks with the political parties and representative organisations on the problem of land titles for European and African farmers holding land from the Crown; and if Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to support the establishment of an impartial and broad-based Kenya Land Corporation to take over the responsibilities of the Crown, facilitate the transfer of land on fair terms and administer for the benefit of all Kenya farmers the promised development finance from outside sources.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe Governor hopes that the parties and groups concerned will be ready to start talks under his Chairmanship soon. As regards the second part of the Question, I am sure that, as my hon. Friend implies, the machinery required to administer the re-settlement programme should be designed to attract effective support from those concerned. If a proposal of the kind he has in mind should emerge from the forthcoming talks, Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to consider it.
§ Sir A. HurdWill the Minister confirm that the Government here recognise a responsibility to see that the tenants of the Crown in Kenya, both European and African, can continue sure in the title to the land which they now farm? May I take it from what he said in reply to the second part of the Question that if a proposition such as this Kenya Land Corporation is put to him from Nairobi he will be prepared to give it a fair wind and perhaps some financial backing to get it started?
§ Mr. MacleodObviously I should have to look at the terms in which a proposal for a Kenya Land Corporation were put forward. My answer was designed to make it clear that I am not closing the door to that sort of solution but would be very ready to study it if one emerged. I think that the key to this matter is security of title, and that is why I think it essential that these talks should start. I hope that they will succeed.