HL Deb 24 November 1960 vol 226 cc858-60
LORD HASTINGS

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty' s Government whether it is their intention to limit the provision of funds for the Land Resettlement Scheme in the White Highlands of Kenya, which will cost £9,000,000, to the period of three years only for which the scheme is initially designed, or whether it is their intention, in so far as the contribution of Her Majesty' s Government is concerned, to provide funds for this purpose for as long as may be necessary.]

THE EARL OF PERTH

My Lords, Her Majesty' s Government have agreed to make available over £3 million in the period covered by the present Colonial Development and Welfare Act. It is not contemplated that the scheme could necessarily be successfully concluded by the end of that period. We are concerned that the scheme should succeed, but the question of further assistance can be considered only in the light of circumstances nearer the time.

LORD HASTINGS

My Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for his reply. which I feel may give some satisfaction to the European farmers in Kenya, I am afraid that it will by no means give full satisfaction. Therefore, may I ask the noble Earl whether he will convey to his right honourable friend the urgent necessity for Her Majesty's Government to make clear their intention to have a long-term policy in this matter, in order that not only the political but also the economic problem of stable land values and continuing development can be solved? May I further ask him to suggest to his right honourable friend that, when the Kenya Government have this money available for the first three years' scheme, they should immediately purchase land, irrespective of whether purchasers are immediately available or not, because by so doing they will establish a fair price for the land, which will give a feeling of security to the European farmers and enable them to deal freely with and dispose of their own land privately, if they should so wish?

THE EARL OF PERTH

My Lords, I certainly will bring to the attention of my right honourable friend the suggestion made by the noble Lord, Lord Hastings, but I think that if he studies my answer he will see that the Kenya Government have a long-term policy on these matters of land in Kenya. There are, however, certain practical reasons why we cannot go beyond the period of the Colonial Development and Welfare Act. As regards the noble Lord' s further suggestion about the purchase of land, certainly I will bring it to the attention of the Kenya Government. Of course, it is for them to operate the scheme and not for Her Majesty' s Government.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, in view of the present changing circumstances in world investment, and especially in view of the investments of Common Market countries and America in Africa, may I take it that the Government are trying, so far as they possibly can, to anticipate events and see that British investment within the Commonwealth is kept up to a proper level?

THE EARL OF PERTH

Certainly, my Lords. I think that our record of investment in the Commonwealth is second to none among the countries who invest in these territories.

EARL WINTERTON

My Lords, the noble Earl says that "it is for the Kenya Government to operate the scheme". No doubt the Secretary of State for the Colonies will bear in mind that Her Majesty's Government have a moral obligation in this matter, because a great number of these settlers were encouraged to go there, after both World Wars, by Her Majesty's Government.

THE EARL OF PERTH

My Lords, I understand very well the point the noble Earl is making, but I still would say that the responsibility for carrying out any scheme of land resettlement and development must rest with the Kenya Government.