§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any statement to make on the situation and future prospects of the Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert.]
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, in answering a Question by the noble Lord on July 30, I gave certain information about the conditions of life of Bushmen in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. I had 550 then planned a visit to the High Commission Territories, and this was one of the subjects which I intended to discuss with the High Commissioner. Unfortunately the course of events obliged me to postpone my visit, although I still hope to undertake it in the comparatively near future. I have, however, made further inquiries about the Bushmen, and in particular about the effect on them of the laws for the preservation of game in the Kalahari. I have confirmed that the game laws do not make it difficult for the Bushmen to live. The Kalahari Game Reserve occupies a very small part of the area where the Bushmen live. Outside the Game Reserve there has never been any restriction on Bushmen hunting and killing game for food, and this is still the position. The game laws are not enforced against them.
The High Commissioner is arranging for one of his administrative officers, after some preliminary training, to attach himself for a year to a Bushman group, to study and report on their living conditions, language and customs. I hope, too, when I am out there in, perhaps, the next few months, to have further conversations with the High Commissioner about their future.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Earl for that Answer. Of course, we had anticipated that when this Question was reached he would have returned from that part of the world. May I ask him one question? Can he tell me what portion of the area which the Bushmen normally cover the game reserve occupies, and what area is outside the game reserve?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, if I may, I will communicate that information to the noble Lord because I have left it behind. I meant to bring it with me for it was the one question I knew he would ask. It is not a very large area.
§ LORD HADEN-GUESTCould the noble Earl say what is the total number of Bushmen at the present time?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, ten years ago, when the last census was taken, it was about 13,500. But, again, when an officer is attached to the Bushmen we shall be in a better position to know their number and understand their problems.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, may I say how grateful I am to the noble Earl for this action? I am sure it will do an enormous amount of good to the Bushmen and to us. It will give us more information about them.