Education (Hansard, 21 July 1964)

§ 10. Mr. Turton
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what offers of assistance towards secondary and technical education in Southern Rhodesia Her Majesty's Government have made since 1962.

§ Mr. Sandys
In 1962 we provided a loan of £355,000 for African education, and we have recently made a gift of £1,850,000 for the University College in Salisbury. We have recently told the Southern Rhodesia Government that we would be willing to discuss with them the provision of assistance to accelerate the expansion of education including administrative training for Africans.

§ Mr. Turton
Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that there are now 25,000 Africans who are ready for further education, that another 500 teachers are required, and that this number will rise by about 5,000 a year? Can he explain to the House why we are so parsimonious towards Southern Rhodesia and so generous to other countries in this matter of development?

§ Mr. Sandys
As I said, we have made a proposal to assist in education. The Southern Rhodesian Government have shown interest in our proposal, and we shall be discussing the matter with them further.

§ Mr. G. M. Thomson
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, although we are not unsympathetic to the provision of educational help for Southern Rhodesia, some of us have in mind the fact that there are other Colonial Territories for which we have a direct responsibility and in respect of which our record of educational help is not nearly adequate? Will he at least assure the House that there will be no question of providing this educational assistance in advance of his consultation with Mr. Ian Smith and before an assurance from the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia that there will be a constitutional advance towards majority rule?

§ Mr. Sandys
The party opposite has always told us that we should not provide aid with strings. That is what he is now proposing.

§ Dame Irene Ward
In respect of the grants which are given to various territories for educational advance, does my right hon. Friend agree that the education provided ought to be for both boys and girls, and men and women? Is not that very important in developing the new world?

§ Mr. Sandys
I am not aware of any sex discrimination.