HL Deb 23 March 1965 vol 264 cc500-1

2.40 p.m.

LORD ALPORT

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 whether they have considered the report of Mr. George Silberbauer on the future of the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert and whose responsibility it will be to implement its recommendations.]

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, with permission, may I reply on behalf of my noble friend Lord Taylor, who is unable to be present to-day. This report, which was published in Bechuanaland earlier this month, has not yet been forwarded to Her Majesty's Government. Responsibility for implementing such recommendations as may be accepted will be that of the Government of Bechuanaland, to whom the report was submitted.

LORD ALPORT

My Lords, in view of the potential importance of this report from the point of view of anthropology, may I ask the Minister whether it is to be made available to the public here in the United Kingdom; and, secondly, whether the Minister will undertake that the recommendations are acted upon before Bechuanaland becomes independent?

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, as to the first part of the noble Lord's Question, most certainly the report, when it is received here and properly considered, will be made available to Members of this House. With regard to the latter part of the question, I personally am unaware of what the actual procedure will be, but I presume the responsibility in any case will be that of Bechuanaland itself and its Government, no doubt with every encouragement from our Government in this country.

LORD ALPORT

My Lords, I am sorry to press this and I know the Minister cannot answer in the absence of Lord Taylor. But would he take this point to Lord Taylor, because I believe it to be of great importance in the interests of this vulnerable minority in the Bechuanaland Protectorate?

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, I fully appreciate what the noble Lord has said. I am personally very interested in this matter. I will certainly undertake to convey to my noble friend Lord Taylor what the noble Lord has said.