§ 94. Mr. Sorensenasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what information he has received in respect of the proposed removal of 22,500 African families from Crown land and European areas in Southern Rhodesia within the next few years; whether, when assent was given to the Land Apportionment Act, 1950, his Department was then informed that removal on this scale was contemplated; and how many Africans are now being removed from those lands.
§ Mr. J. FosterThe measures to which the hon. Member refers deal with the resettlement of Africans who are occupying Crown Land and Alienated Land in contravention of the Land Apportionment (Amendment) Act, 1950. When assent was given in 1950 to this Act—which was designed to give to those Africans a security of tenure which they do not at present enjoy—the Commonwealth Relations Office was informed that the provision which was made therein for the re-assignment of 3¾ million acres of land was for the re-settlement of these 151W and other Africans. A further 367,500 acres have since been set aside and the assignment of a further 118,300 acres is under consideration.
The pace at which the resettlement can proceed is a matter for the Government of Southern Rhodesia, and is regulated by the speed with which water supplies, health services, schools, roads and bridges, etc., can be provided on the new land. I understand that the total number of families mentioned by the hon. Member is correct, that about 6,000 will have been moved by the end of 1952, and that the remainder will be moved on an orderly plan at Government expense by the end of 1955.