§ 34. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any model Standing Orders for Colonial Legislatures have been drawn up and transmitted to Colonial Governments as a result of the recommendation of the Colonial Office Conference, 1927; how 419 many and, if so, which Colonial Legislatures have amended their Standing Orders as a result of this recommendation; whether a White Paper or other public document will be prepared showing the changes made; and whether he will place copies of any correspondence between the Secretary of State and Colonial Governments on this subject in the Library of the House of Commons?
§ Dr. SHIELSA draft code of model Standing Orders for Colonial Legislatures was drawn up in consultation with the Clerk and certain officers of the House of Commons who generously gave their assistance, and this was communicated to Colonial Governors a year ago. A copy of this draft code has been placed in the Library of the House. Replies have been received from a number of Colonies promising consideration of the model. Four Colonies have sent more definite replies, embodying either revised Standing Orders or drafts for approval. These are Hong Kong, Northern Rhodesia, Cyprus and Uganda. I do not think that revised Standing Orders are actually in operation as yet in any Colony. Copies of the Standing Orders of all Colonial Legislatures were placed in the Library in March, 1928, and I will take steps to make sure that this set is kept up to date; but the Secretary of State is unable to place confidential despatches in the Library and does not think that it would be justifiable to incur the expense of publishing a White Paper to indicate the changes made.