§ LORD HOLDENMy Lords, I beg to ask the first question on the Order Paper on behalf of my noble friend Lord Faringdon.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, whether they can state what is the minimum annual income required by the average African family in (a) Nyasaland, (b) Northern Rhodesia; providing in the estimate for payment of taxes.
§ There were two other questions also in the name of Lord Faringdon—namely:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government what is the estimated income of an average African farming family in (a) Nyasaland, (b) Northern Rhodesia, when the male workers are at home, taking into account the value of cash crops and of produce for home consumption; and what is the estimated loss in production when the father of the family is away at work.
§ To ask His Majesty's Government what is the estimated average annual wage of migrant workers in the mines of Northern and Southern Rhodesia after deductions for clothing and personal expenses at the mines, and whether they are satisfied that these wages are sufficient to augment the earnings on the workers holding up to 622 the level of the minimum family requirements.]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (VISCOUNT HALL)My Lords, with the noble Lord's permission I will answer these three questions together. It will be appreciated that the figures given can only be approximate in view of the considerable variation between different parts of the territories mentioned and of the fact that in rural areas generally, Africans do not base their living on a money economy. The minimum annual cash requirements of the average African family in rural areas, such as the money required for purchasing clothes and other essentials and paying tax, is estimated at £5 in Nyasaland. This figure does not provide for expenditure on food, which in the large majority of instances is homegrown, or housing. A tentative overall figure of £14 to £15, allowing for the value of food and housing, is given for Northern Rhodesia.
The annual income of the average farming family allowing for cash crops, food consumed and casual wages varies between £9 and £15, with an average of about £12 in Nyasaland and £14 in Northern Rhodesia. The loss in production when the father of the family is away at work varies too widely to admit of a precise estimate, but may be as much as 30 per cent., depending on the character and physical capacities of the family. Remittances sent home by workers abroad are sufficient to cover the loss in production and to augment the family budget to the minimum required. The average annual wage on the mines in Southern Rhodesia is in the region of £15 to £17, and in Northern Rhodesia £23, with the addition in each case of food and housing provided by the employer (valued in Northern Rhodesia at £22 per annum). Personal expenses at the mines vary, but at least 50 per cent. of the wage figures quoted should be available to the worker for family remittances.
The figures which I have quoted reflect the minimum standards of living in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which it is hoped will steadily be raised as a result of the application of the present ten-year development plans amounting to approximately £13.000,000 and £7,000,000 respectively in the two Protectorates. A total contribution of £4,500,000 is being made towards these 623 plans from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds.
§ LORD HOLDENI thank the noble Viscount for his reply.