Aged Sick and Impoverished

HC Deb 11 December 1962 vol 669 cc188-9

20. Mr. Turton

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Kenya possess a list of those who through age, infirmity, remoteness of residence or other reasons can be regarded as security risks in the even of disturbances occurring in Kenya; whether such persons receive priority on compassionate grounds in cases of farm purchase; and what steps are being taken to assist them to move to safer areas or to Great Britain.

22. Mr. Wade

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to assist the aged sick and impoverished who are now leaving Kenya, or are anxious to leave but have not the financial resources to do so.

Mr. Sandys

About half the farms occupied by persons in these categories will come within the scope of the Settlement Scheme already announced. I am in consultation with the Governor about methods of dealing with the balance of the farms and with the problem of other types of compassionate cases.

Mr. Turton

Will my right hon. Friend answer the first part of my Question? Is there a list? How many are on the list, and how many are on farms or outside the farm area? Is he aware that there is considerable concern about the plight of many of these people, some of them bedridden or old, who, if there is disturbance in Kenya, should be brought out to safer areas as soon as possible?

Mr. Sandys

The Governor of Kenya has very full information about these cases. It is a little difficult to say how many there are, because it is not possible precisely to define someone who is old, infirm or living in an exposed situation, but I assure my right hon. Friend that very full particulars are available to the Governor of Kenya about these cases.

Mr. Wade

Do not the aged, sick and impoverished people we are concerned with here deserve very serious consideration on humanitarian grounds, quite apart from any political issues involved? Has the Minister no complete statistics on the subject? Further, what arrangements, if any, have been made for the welfare here of those who are able to come to this country?

Mr. Sandys

When they return here, they will be like any other British subjects living in the United Kingdom.