§ 14. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he will be prepared to make his statement on the Ceylon constitution, the Kenya constitution, East African currency, and the Rhodesian land and constitutional questions?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Churchill)I do not contemplate making any statement in regard to the constitutions of Ceylon or Kenya, and I am not yet in a position to say when it will be possible to make any useful addition to the information already given about East African currency. As regards Rhodesia, the Report of Lord Buxton's Committee has recently been laid before Parliament, 37 and the action to be taken on it is under the consideration of His Majesty's Government.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWhen is it proposed to have the Colonial Office Estimates for discussion, so that we can raise the question of the Ceylon constitution and of the Kenya constitution?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is the desire of the Government at an early date to provide a day for the discussion of the Middle Eastern question. I understand that has been discussed by the Leader of the House and those who represent other points of view. So far as the Colonial Office Estimates are concerned, they follow the usual rule as regards supply.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAs the Middle Eastern question is under the Colonial Office now, will there be opportunity to raise the whole Colonial Office question on that day?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not know; but if you are to deal with the Middle East it will take some time.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWhy does the right hon. Gentleman wish to burke discussion of these constitutions?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMy hon. and gallant Friend has no right to suggest that I want to burke discussion, even with so formidable an antagonist as himself.
§ Earl WINTERTONIn view of the great importance of the two questions of East African currency and Rhodesian land and constitution, on the one hand, and the Middle East on the other, can the right hon. Gentleman by an arrangement, which is perfectly well-known, with the Chairman of Committees, arrange that we shall have a full discussion about the Middle East on the first day, and that on the second day we shall be able to raise the question of East Africa and Rhodesia, when both reports have been presented?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI shall be quite ready to discuss all these questions, but whether Parliamentary time can be found rests, happily, elsewhere.
§ Earl WINTERTONIn view of the fact that both sides of the House feel strongly on these questions, will the right 38 hon. Gentleman approach the Leader of the House so that we can get two full days for discussion of these questions?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINWe shall gladly consider that. In any arrangement of business we always try to meet the general wishes of the House.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the Leader of the House aware that there is a tendency to suppose that the present Secretary of State for the Colonies is more interested in the Middle East and does not take sufficient interest in the rest of the Colonial questions? He is never here to answer questions on general Colonial matters. May we, therefore, have an opportunity of discussing these questions?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs regards the first part of the question, I was not aware that there had been any criticism as to my right hon. Friend's interests. With regard to the second part of the question, I think that is covered by what I have already said, that we will do our best in arranging supply to meet the general wishes of the House.