HL Deb 26 July 1960 vol 225 cc704-5
LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government if they will state when the Report of the Economic Survey of the High Commission Territories of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland is to be published.]

THE EARL OF HOME

My Lords, I am glad to inform your Lordships that this Report (which is addressed to the High Commissioner for Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland) was published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office to-day. Copies are being placed in the Library of the House. I should like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude, and that of the High Commissioner, to the Chairman of the Mission, Professor Chandler Morse, and to the other members for the thorough and imaginative Report which they have produced. My thanks are also due to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and to its President, Mr. Eugene Black, for nominating the Chairman of the Mission and assisting with their advice in the appointment of the other members.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his appropriate reply, may I ask him if it is to be anticipated that, as a result of this Report, some expenditure will be required in these Territories, and if he— or his successor to-morrow, if it turns out to be like that— will bear in mind that we have the most admirable Proconsul in the High Commissioner and that his advice as to the financial needs of these territories might be taken? May I ask if it is not true that these three Territories, so near to the Union of South Africa, are splendid cases in which Britain could set an example as to how people like the Basutos, the Bechuanas and the Swazis should be nourished, both economically and politically?

THE EARL OF HOME

My Lords, leaving aside the question of my continuance in office, or my successor, and all that, perhaps I can say that of course we understand the great importance of nourishing these Territories economically. The Report makes proposals for certain increased expenditure on education and other facilities to enable these Territories to be viable, and it will be most carefully and sympathetically studied.