§ 12. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what financial help he proposes to give to Pius XII University College at Roma in Basutoland in the light of the recommendation made to him in the Report of the Morse Mission.
§ Mr. BraineA small annual grant is already made by the High Commissioner to the College in respect of the maintenance of students from the High Commission Territories. Any further Government assistance has to be considered in relation to the financial resources available for the Territories and the other claims upon those resources. As was stated in this House on 2nd February in reply to the right hon. Gentleman, the Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. Marquand), we are still considering the recommendations of the Morse Report.
§ Mr. ThomsonHas not this matter concerning Roma College been dragging on for a very long time? Does the hon. Gentleman not appreciate that, apart from the importance of higher education in the High Commission Territories, as a result of the regrettable 1727 educational developments in the Union of South Africa it is now impossible for students to go from the High Commission Territories to the Union? Will he look at the matter very seriously indeed and try to inject some urgency into the consideration of the matter?
§ Mr. BraineThe good work undertaken by the College is fully appreciated by my right hon. Friend, but the question of providing the money recommended in the Morse Mission's Report will have to be studied in the light of other pressing demands for development funds and the fact that the College is an institution which at the moment draws the bulk of its students from outside the High Commission Territories. I fully appreciate the sense of urgency behind the hon. Gentleman's Question, and I assure him that we are considering the matter expeditiously; but it should be realised, especially by those who have read it, that this enormous Report covers a very wide field indeed.
§ Mr. MarquandIt is almost a year since we debated this subject in the House of Commons. How can the Minister say that he is studying it urgently? All this time has passed since we gave him information about Roma College and put the case forward. He still says that he is studying it. When shall we have some action?
§ Mr. BraineI hesitate to give a complete answer to that question here and now, but I assure the right hon. Gentleman that we are considering the matter as expeditiously as possible. As he well knows, there are very many difficulties which are not easily resolved.