HC Deb 10 November 1943 vol 393 cc1165-6W
Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the draft Bill in Kenya, providing powers to a control board in respect to dealings in land, and for the acquisition of land for settlement purposes, represents the policy of His Majesty's Government; and whether he will state the principles of the new legislation?

Colonel Stanley

The object of the Bill is to prevent speculative dealings in agricultural land and to provide for the re-acquisition of alienated land by the Crown for settlement and other public purposes. I am in correspondence with the Governor in reference to this Bill, and I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject at present.

Mr. Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, concurrently with the survey now being prepared in Kenya of lands suitable for European settlement, a survey will be undertaken of native reserves, including proposals for the improvement of agriculture, and the prevention of soil erosion, and a survey of unoccupied land outside the reserves which might be utilised by African cultivators?

Colonel Stanley

Large scale proposals for agricultural development in the Native Reserves in Kenya, including special provision for soil conservation measures, have already been submitted by the Governor. The possibility of a substantial grant for this purpose from the Colonial Development and Welfare Vote is now under examination. These proposals form only one item in a comprehensive development programme, which includes schemes for making additional areas available for cultivation by Africans, by irrigation, development of water supplies, the clearing of tsetse fly, and by the rehabilitation of eroded land. I will place a copy of the Governor's despatch outlining his programme in the Library of the House.

Mr. Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of public money which is at present allocated to improving the position of native African land cultivators in Kenya?

Colonel Stanley

The Provincial Administration, the Agricultural, Educational, Medical, Veterinary and Forest Department all contribute directly or indirectly to the improvement of the position of African cultivators. Any attempt to assess the share of benefit derived by Africans from these various services would be difficult and would be likely to be misleading.