§ 5. Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the continuation of the compassionate farm purchase scheme for British subjects in Kenya.
§ Mr. OramThe scheme remains in being up to March, 1970. I am not at present in a position to make any statement about its continuance thereafter.
§ Mr. WallIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the previous Conservative Government allocated over £1 million to this scheme? What sum is allocated today? The hon. Gentleman says that the scheme is still in existence. What are the criteria to qualify because most people in Kenya think that the scheme is dead?
§ Mr. OramIn an earlier Answer to the hon. Gentleman, I indicated that the scheme has now very largely fulfilled its original purpose and that discussions are going on about what the position shall be after March, 1970. We must await the outcome of those discussions.
§ Mr. WhitakerDo not the Government think that we have a moral responsibility to compensate British citizens of Asian origin whose businesses in Kenya have been appropriated?
§ Mr. Frederic HarrisDoes the hon. Gentleman have any information through the British High Commission about how many cases of compassionate farm purchase are still outstanding?
§ Mr. OramOf the original 18, six accepted the offers made to them, and over the last two years no new cases have come forward.