Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken in Northern Rhodesia to in- 66W troduce Africans to the administrative services and to give them the facilities of education and experience for administrative posts; how many Africans have been trained or are suitable; and what positions they occupy.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydOnly three Africans have applied for appointment as cadets in the Administrative Service, and none of them reached the required standard of academic qualifications. They are now employed on administrative duties in other Departments. In addition, there are ten Africans working as Administrative Assistants in the Districts and one in the Secretariat, and a small number are doing work of an administrative nature in the Departments of Education, Agriculture and Information. The Northern Rhodesian Government are now proposing to create certain new grades of post requiring higher qualifications than those at present required for the senior posts in the African Civil Service. Africans in these posts will be able to acquire experience which, if they have the necessary qualities of character, may make them eligible for further promotion in due course.
On the educational side, the Northern Rhodesian Government provide bursaries for Africans to receive higher education abroad: there are thirty-six of these at present. It is also concerned to ensure that the greatest possible number of Africans from Northern Rhodesia will gain admission to the newly established University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. There are also special courses for Africans in government service.