§ 2.49 p.m.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy 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 what arrangements they have made for 149 the admission of Rhodesian African students to university courses in Britain
Lord ORAMMy Lords, no special arrangements have been made for Rhodesian Africans, who are free to apply for places in the same way as other overseas candidates. Of 204 Rhodesian Africans at present attending British universities under programmes financed by the Ministry of Overseas Development, 163 are undergraduates and 41 are post-graduate students. If Rhodesian Africans studying at polytechnics are included, the figures become 374 and 49. The principal criterion governing these awards is that the courses being followed should have a developmental purpose. The number of Rhodesian Africans benefiting from awards from local education authorities and other bodies is not known.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, while thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether he does not agree that the training of qualified African students is a very valuable contribution to the search for democracy in Southern Rhodesia? Can he confirm or repudiate the statement that last autumn the Overseas Ministry decided to increase the number of Rhodesian African students in this country from 160 to only 170? Is it the case that 900 have applied for places in our universities?—a number which is likely to reach 2,000.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I agree with the implication in the opening sentence of my noble friend's supplementary question. An increase from 160 to 170 is not correct. My noble friend should have in mind that support for Rhodesian Africans through British aid funds is to be seen in terms of not only university places, to which he has referred, but many other courses—indeed the intermediate courses between O-level and first degree level. The figures here are very much in excess of those which my noble friend has given.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask whether it is the case that in Rhodesia itself a screening committee composed of African educationists has been set up in the university? Will Her Majesty's Government accept the recommendations of that screening committee to admit African students to this country?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, our Ministry works in this matter in association with the World University Service and it is the case that under the auspices of that body a committee of Rhodesian educationists is proposing to help us screen applicants. I think that the criteria they will apply will be ones that will recommend themselves to my noble friend.
§ Lord BALOGHMy Lords—
§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Lord Shepherd)My Lords, occasionally we encounter little difficulties, but I think we have an understanding that we try to switch from one side to the other. May I suggest that the noble Lord. Lord Inglewood, puts his question and that my noble friend then puts his?
Lord INGLEWOODMy Lords, I was not trying to jump the queue. May I ask the Minister whether he will tell us—so that we have the complete picture—how many Rhodesians not technically described as Rhodesian African students may be studying in our universities today with the assistance of some public funds?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, the figure for this financial year is 1,230. An increase is planned over the next two or three years.
§ Lord BALOGHMy Lords, would my noble friend not agree that the education of African students in Europe—not only in this country but in Europe generally—on the whole makes for inequality after their return home?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I accept my noble friend's point and would inform him and your Lordships that it is the Ministry's intention to arrange training in Africa, either in Third countries or with Rhodesia. This, I think, is the right policy and it does not fall into the trap to which my noble friend has drawn attention.
Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTONMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell us how many African Rhodesian students are studying in European universities other than in this country, and in how many of those universities courses in guerrilla activities are included?