16. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether copies of the report of the Commission appointed to investigate the Copper Belt dispute will be made available to Members of Parliament?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. George Hall)Yes, Sir. It is hoped that the report will be published in Northern Rhodesia in a few weeks' time, and copies will then be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Creech JonesIs there any special reason for the long delay in publishing this report, in view of the considerable interest which has been aroused by it?
§ Mr. HallYes, Sir, delay has largely been caused as a result of the communication which has to take place between the Governor and the Colonial Office. My hon. Friend is aware that the Governor of Northern Rhodesia was responsible for appointing this Commission, and the report had to be considered there and sent on to the Colonial Office. I am hoping, however, that the matter will be dealt with as speedily as possible.
§ Mr. SorensenMay I ask whether this report will be complete, whether it will be available for sale to the public, and at what price?
§ Mr. HallI would like my hon. Friend to give me notice of that question. Copies will, however, be placed in the Library. The trouble is that the report had to be 1963 printed in Northern Rhodesia, and the number of copies here at the present time is very limited.