§ Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the proposed Local Government Board has now been established in Kenya; what is its composition and powers; and what is its relation to the Standing Advisory Committee on Local Native Councils.
Mr. Creech JonesThe proposed Local Government Board has not yet been established in Kenya, but the legislation under which it will be created and will operate is under consideration in consultation with the local government bodies concerned. It is intended that the Board shall include non-official European, Indian and African members, as well as officials. Its functions will cover the general direction of policy in local government matters and the exercise of certain powers, including the hearing of certain statutory58W appeals, hitherto vested in the Governor-in-Council under the existing local government legislation. The Board will have standing committees dealing respectively with municipal councils, district councils and African district councils. These committees will be similar in constitution and powers to the existing standing committees, except that the new Standing Committee for African District Councils will have greater powers than the present Standing Advisory Committee on Local Native Councils, which is a purely advisory body.