VISCOUNT STANSGATEasked Her Majesty's Government what in detail are the requirements of the pass laws for Africans in Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland and the three High Commission Territories; what, if any, additional regulations are imposed on those who go to work in the Union; what Governmental machinery exists to assist African labourers who work outside their own countries; and approximately what number of migrant African labourers there are at any time in the Union.
THE EARL OF HOME1. There are no pass laws in the High Commission Territories or Nyasaland.
2. In Northern Rhodesia, under the Natives Registration Ordinance (CAP. 169) all indigenous adult male Africans (except those resident in Barotseland) are required to carry an identity certificate in prescribed districts, including major centres of employment. Under the Alien Registration Ordinance (Cap. 170) adult male alien Africans entering the country are issued with alien registration certificates. Certain other requirements are imposed by local authority by-laws, but the former night-pass system has been 1150WA suspended in all but two local authority areas.
3. Pass laws in Southern Rhodesia fall within the constitutional responsibility of the Government of Southern Rhodesia.
4. As I informed the noble Viscount on April 4, Africans who are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies or British Protected Persons and who work in the Union of South Africa, are subject to all the laws in force there, including the pass laws. The Governments of the United Kingdom dependent territories in question do not impose special regulations on Africans who go to work in the Union of South Africa, but they try to discourage Africans who have not been recruited under an approved scheme, since these are prohibited immigrants under the law of the Union of South Africa.
5. There is an Agent for the High Commission Territories at Johannesburg, and three Deputy Agents at other centres in the Union to assist Africans from the Territories in matters concerning their employment, and to ensure their welfare.
6. The Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia Government are represented in Johannesburg. These officers look after the interests of African workers from those two territories.
7. The United Kingdom High Commissioner and the High Commissioner for the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in the Union also of course watch the interests of persons in the Union, whether African or other, from the countries which they represent.
8. It is estimated that about 182,000 Africans from the High Commission Territories are temporarily working in the Union, about 30,000 from Nyasaland, and up to 10,000 from Northern Rhodesia. No figures are immediately available for migrant African labourers from other districts.
House adjourned at eight o'clock until Tuesday, April 26, 1960.