§ 18. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the present position relative to the grant of constitutional reforms to Ceylon; and whether despatches outlining the new constitution have yet been sent out to the Colony?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREPapers on this subject have recently been presented to 905 Parliament. The Secretary of State has addressed despatches to the Governor which will be laid before the Legislative Council on their receipt in Ceylon, and will subsequently be published here.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAre the papers recently published the last that have passed on this question? Has any decision been come to by the Government to modify the proposal in any particular direction?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWill this House be required to ratify this constitution or to approve of it in any way? If so, will care be taken that we have an opportunity to discuss the matter on the Colonial Office Vote?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt will be in order to discuss it on that Vote. These modifications in Colonial constitutions are always made by Letters Patent and are not the subject of legislation in this House. They are thus more easily modified. There are a good many of these cases in the West Indies and many changes are being made. In reply to the first supplementary question, certain changes have been made in the original proposal as the result of representations we have received. I was under the impression that a further document, in addition to the one referred to by the hon. and gallant Member, was laid at the end of last week. If it was not, it will be laid this week. The final despatch is, I think, in draft, but before it is issued it will have to be laid in Ceylon.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan we have an undertaking that before the Letters Patent are issued, there will be an opportunity for the House to discuss the matter?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI think I am correct in saying that there is no possibility of the Letters Patent being issued before the Colonial Vote is taken the week after next.