§ 2.38 p.m.
LORD WEDGWOODMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will say how many British farmers have refused offers under the present Land Purchase scheme in Kenya; and whether those offers refused are due to disputed valuations; and, if so, whether any of these cases have been investigated by the British High Commission.]
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I understand that of 31 offers of purchase made by the Kenya Agricultural Development Corporation 20 have been accepted, seven refused and four withdrawn. All offers were made on the basis of willing buyer/willing seller. Some of the refusals are believed to have been due to disagreement over valuation, but there 1267 may have been other factors involved. The High Commission were informed of the valuations and of the offers made, but since the offers were in accordance with the agreement reached between the Kenya and British Governments, the High Commission have had no cause to intervene other than to seek clarification of various issues raised by individual farmers.
LORD WEDGWOODMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his comprehensive Answer, I should like to ask whether he is aware that under the present scheme offers to purchase are based on a valuation figure for the farm concerned which is not made available to the seller? Would he not agree that as these offers, which are made on a lock, stock and barrel basis, show no breakdown of fixed and loose assets, the farmer is at a great disadvantage in any subsequent negotiations? Further, does he realise that these somewhat arbitrary methods of purchase, from which there is no appeal, are creating much bitterness in the British farming community in Kenya whose farms are now required to be taken over by the Kenya Government over the next three years?
§ LORD BESWICKOffers under this programme are based on current market values as determined by professionally qualified valuers of the Kenya Lands Department, and are in accordance with the agreement reached between Her Majesty's Government and the Kenya Government. Moreover, as the noble Lord will know, the valuation itself is now made known to the High Commission, and if it is thought it is an unreasonable valuation and not in accordance with current values there is then a possibility for the High Commission to intervene.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, do Her Majesty's Government realise that many of these farmers were pressed strongly, as a public duty, to go to Kenya; and do they realise, further, that in many cases these men put their all into the farms, and years of work as well? Lastly, do the Government realise, as the noble Lord, Lord Wedgwood, has already said, that the present basis of valuation is very different from what it was before the grant of independence for Kenya? In those circumstances may I 1268 ask the noble Lord whether there will be any chance of Her Majesty's Government themselves doing something to bridge the gap between the former values of these farms and the valuation now put upon them?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, the fact of the matter is that Her Majesty's Government have made available £30 million of British taxpayers' money to enable purchase of these farms on a willing buyer/willing seller basis. The procedure for valuation has been agreed between the British and the Kenya Governments, and I do not believe any further action is either called for or justified.
LORD WEDGWOODMy Lords, would the noble Lord not agree that his statement about willing seller/willing buyer is not strictly applicable to this purchase scheme? May I draw his attention to the fact that these farms are required for purchase by the Kenya Government for their own purposes, and although it is strictly legal that the seller does not have to sell, is the noble Lord aware that there are no other purchasers in the market except the Agricultural Development Corporation? Would the noble Lord not agree that there is some room for improvement in the method of purchase under this scheme, so that a demonstratively more fair procedure could be arrived at?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, it is a fact that these sales are effected on a willing buyer/willing seller basis. If the present owner does not wish to sell, then there is no compulsion at all upon him to sell. I do not believe it is correct to say that this scheme was agreed first and foremost for the benefit of the Kenya Government; it was agreed as a means of enabling those who wished to leave Kenya to do so without sacrificing any of their capital. Moreover, it is a fact that there are facilities for private sale, and Her Majesty's Government have made available very substantial sums of money to the Land Bank to enable private buyers to purchase farms if such a sale can be effected.
§ LORD PARGITERMy Lords, would the noble Lord not agree, having looked at what has happened in many parts of that continent, that the arrangements in Kenya would appear to be excellent?
LORD WEDGWOODMy 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 how many cases are outstanding of British subjects in Kenya who wish to sell their property for compassionate reasons, and are either unable to do so or have not yet received payment in full.]
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, there are no cases outstanding. All those who have recently accepted offers of purchase for their farms under this scheme, with one exception, have now been paid in full.
LORD WEDGWOODMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his brief and reassuring reply. I wonder whether the noble Lord could further reassure us that in any future arrangements for dealing with compassionate cases, these people will have all the help and attention that the British High Commission in Nairobi can give them?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I gladly give that assurance. I might add that the possibility of continuing this scheme is being considered, and I hope that a statement will be made in the near future.