§ Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the progress of the scheme for purchasing farms of British nationals in Kenya who are regarded as compassionate cases.
§ Mr. OramMy right hon. Friend announced on 18th October in reply to a Written Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) that an interest-free loan would be made to the Kenya Government for this purposese. Since then I understand that offers of purchase have been made for the farms of the 18 outstanding cases.—[Vol. 734, c.29–30.]
§ Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a 342W statement on the progress of the 400,000 acre scheme in Kenya.
§ Mr. OramThe arrangements agreed between Her Majesty's Government and the Kenya Government, to which I referred in my Answer of the 9th August to the hon. Gentleman, have been described in broad outline to the expatriate farming community in Kenya. By and large they appear to have been well received.
The Kenya authorities are now preparing detailed proposals for the first year's purchase programme. Some complicated issues are involved but it is expected that letters inquiring whether prospective vendors wished to sell will be issued by the Kenya Agricultural Development Corporation this month.—[Vol. 733, c. 1366.]