§ Squadron-Leader Donnerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that inconvenience and hardship is being caused to in- 85W dividuals at home and overseas by delays in reaching decisions on the part of the Land Control Board in Kenya; and what steps he is taking in the matter.
Mr. Creech JonesSince its inception in January, 1945, the Board has dealt with nearly 900 applications for the transfer of land within the Highlands. Its procedure necessitates consultation with local authorities on land transactions within their district? and some cases present difficulties on which advice has to be sought from other quarters. The average time taken to deal with an application is from three to six weeks from the date of the application. As a result of experience of the operation of the Ordinance the possibility of speeding up decisions by the Board is under examination, but it is doubtful whether it will be practicable to reduce the time taken to reach decisions except in cases of special urgency.