HC Deb 14 February 1963 vol 671 c1457
4. Mr. A. Fenner Brockway

asked the First Secretary of State on what conditions he contributed to the finances of the Central African University.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I have been asked to reply.

Her Majesty's Government undertook to provide Colonial Development and Welfare grants to the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland subject to the usual conditions attached to the issue of such grants for higher education purposes. These include a requirement that Her Majesty's Government should be satisfied about the constitution and autonomy of the administering body.

It was also a condition that the full recurrent costs should be guaranteed from other sources.

Mr. Brockway

Did these conditions include any safeguard concerning British citizens who are on the staff of this university? Is he aware that Dr. Terence Ranger, a member of the staff of this University, was deported because he engaged in inter-racial activities when a lecturer at an inter-racial college? Under conditions like that, ought not our Government to stand for the elementary liberties of British citizens in a university to which the Government contribute?

Mr. Macleod

Although I understand the feelings of the hon. Member, that supplementary question is quite a distance away from his main Question. The position is that the constitution of the college establishes—as he knows; he has been there, as I have—that the college shall be multi-racial. That is written into the Charter of 11th February, 1955. The hon. Gentleman's supplementary question surely goes outside the provision of C.D. and W. grants to this university.