§ 3. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the total annual financial aid given to Basutoland through the Colonial Development Corporation and other agencies.
§ Mr. BraineI would refer the hon. Member to the Annual Report of the Colonial Development Corporation which shows that possible ways of helping Basutoland are under active consideration. No figure is available of annual financial aid from other agencies, but during recent years the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund has made gifts of dried milk, vitamins and equipment for maternity and child welfare totalling nearly £19,000, and the World Health Organisation has conducted a nutrition survey costing about £40,000.
§ Mr. BrockwayI thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. I have read the Report, but is he aware that I have also read the Report of the Morse Mission and seen its recommendations? Is it not the case that that Report points out that 130,000 Africans in Basutoland are compelled to go for work in the Union of South Africa and that its proposals would make that unnecessary for a large number of these Africans? Has it not proposed a grant of £2,740,000? Have the Government reached any decision on that matter?
§ Mr. BraineThe recommendations of the Morse Report are receiving the active consideration of my right hon. Friend now. I may perhaps add that Basutoland has been granted an allocation of £825,000 under the 1959 Act, of which £430,000 has been spent on education in and the campaign for conservation of the soil and the proper use of land which must be precedent to any proper development of the Territory's resources.