HC Deb 16 July 1959 vol 609 cc47-50W
Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of European farmers in the area supervised by the Kenya Highlands Board, the total area available for European settlement, the average area of each farm, and the actual area of the 10 largest farms.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

In answer to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my pursuant reply to his Question of 12th February, which appeared in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 10th March.

In August, 1958, the total area covered by all agricultural holdings in the highlands was 7,299,600 acres (nearly 11,406 square miles) with an average size of 2,090 acres, excluding from account holding of less than 20 acres. This includes a small number of farms owned by Asians. I am asking the Governor if he can supply figures for the land alienated only to Europeans, including holdings of less than 20 acres.

There were 10 holdings with an area of 50,000 acres or more. The estimated total area of these 10 holdings was 700,000 acres.

Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total area of the Highlands in Kenya reserved for European settlement, the actual area in arable farming and the actual area used for maize, coffee and pyrethrum growing, respectively, and each area expressed as a percentage of total area.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Of the area alienated in the Highlands, which I am giving in answer to a separate Question by the hon. Member, the total area under crops in August, 1958, was 979,700 acres, of which 148,300 acres, or 15.1 per cent. of the total area under crops, was used for maize; 64,400 acres, or 6.6 per cent., for coffee; 22,300 acres or 2.3 per cent. for pyrethrum. These figures exclude holdings of less than 20 acres.

Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the actual area of the Kenya White Highlands used for cattle grazing, the number of cattle reared, and the average of such cattle per acre in the grazing areas.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

In August, 1958, 5,452,500 acres of land in the Highlands were used for grazing; 915,100 cattle were reared (410,500 dairy, 504,600 beef); and the average of cattle per acre of grazing land was 0.168. These figures exclude holdings of less than 20 acres.

Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the actual sum made available for European farming in the White Highlands of Kenya for each of the years from 1951; and how this has been apportioned.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Agricultural expenditure by the Kenya Government is mainly upon common field, extension and research services, from which farmers of all races benefit directly or indirectly without distinction. Expenditure is, therefore, not normally recorded on a racial basis except in the case of such particular services as the European Agricultural Settlement Board. Figures for such specific services would be misleading in the absence of precise figures showing the benefit derived by European farmers from common services.

If the hon. Member wishes me to obtain figures in respect of any particular item, however, whether it is for a common service or for a service confined to European farmers I will try to do so.

Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are made to secure the full economic utilisation of the White Highlands of Kenya.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The Highlands are part of the Scheduled Areas established under Part III of the Agriculture Ordinance, 1955, which is the main instrument for their full economic use. The purpose of the Ordinance is to promote and maintain a stable agriculture, to provide for the conservation of the soil and its fertility and to stimulate the development of agricultural land in accordance with the accepted practices of good land management and good husbandry. A copy of this Ordinance with its amendments has been placed in the Library.

In addition there are a number of separate measures which also encourage the full use of the Highlands and other land in the Colony by providing for the improvement of the standard of important crops and the extension of services and finance to farmers, and by encouraging capital development, for instance by income tax concessions for investment in farm improvements.

Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions are applied to the sale of land in the White Highlands of Kenya; how the powers of the Board are applied; and what proposals he has in mind for amending them and for securing representation of Africans on this Board.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The restrictions on the sale of land in the Highlands, and the powers of the Land Control Board, are set out in Parts VIII and IX of the Crown Lands Ordinance and in the Land Control Ordinance. Copies of these Ordinances have been placed in the Library.

In addition, under the Kenya (Highlands) Order in Council, the Governor is required to consult the Highlands Board in all matters relating to the disposition of land within the Highlands.

On 4th June, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall), my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave an account of the general intentions of the Kenya Government with regard to a revision of the control of land transactions in the Highlands, and all other land in the Colony. Details of the new policy are still being worked out and will be announced in due course.