§ Q2. Mrs. Castleasked the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to coordinate the activities of Ministers responsible for complying with the Security Council resolution of 18th June in the immediate provision of education and training facilities for non-white South Africans; and what finance Her Majesty's Government are proposing to earmark for this purpose.
§ The Prime MinisterClause eleven of the Security Council Resolution of 18th June invited the Secretary-General of the United Nations to establish a programme for the education and training abroad of South Africans.
Her Majesty's Government have not yet been approached by the Secretary-General nor have they been given any information about the proposed programme. No question of Ministerial co-ordination or of additional finance therefore arises.
§ Mrs. CastleIs it not a fact that the Committee of Experts of which Sir Hugh Foot was the rapporteur attached great importance to the establishment of a United Nations South African education and training programme as one of the peaceful methods of preparing South Africa for democracy? Is it not also a fact that the Scandinavian and many African Governments have already been giving assistance to young South Africans in exile in order to enable them to take up university scholarships and other training facilities? Why will not the British 1226 Government take some initiative in this matter? What do they intend to do to carry out the promises we have made about fighting apartheid in South Africa?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Lady is talking of the Security Council Resolution and there the initiative must come from the Secretary-General. We have a programme of our own in this country about which, from the nature of her question, I do not know whether the hon. Lady is aware. In 1963–64, 22 scholarships of one year or more were awarded by the British Council to South African post-graduate students, and 12 bursaries for a shorter term were given to candidates with lower academic qualifications. So we have a plan of our own at the moment.
§ Mr. MayhewIs the Prime Minister aware that the Question refers to non-white South Africans? Is he aware that the vast majority of the cases he has quoted related to white South Africans and that this discriminates against Africans in South Africa?
§ The Prime MinisterThe programme has been altered and of the remaining 18 scholarships 10 have gone to white students and eight to non-white students and of the 11 bursaries eight have gone to non-white students. More bursaries are yet to be announced which will also go to non-white students.