HC Deb 22 July 1942 vol 382 cc11-3
11. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many native West Indians have been appointed to magistracies and judgeships in the West Indies; whether he is aware that the natives of Jamaica regret that whilst an American negro judge has recently been appointed a member of the United States of America Commission in the West Indies, no appointment of a similar nature has been made by the British Government; and what representations he has received on this matter from the People's National Party of Jamaica?

Mr. Harold Macmillan

I regret that the figures asked for in the first part of the Question are not available, but I may say that the majority of the magistracies in the West Indies are filled by local candidates and that several West Indians have been appointed as judges.

As regards the second part of the Question, I understand that a judge of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico was appointed by the President of the United States as a member of his Caribbean Advisory Committee. This committee, with which the British Government is not concerned, is entirely distinct from the Anglo-United States Caribbean Commission. The President of the United States has made no similar appointment on the American side of the Caribbean Commission, and as regards the difficulty of appointing a West Indian on the British side, I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on 3rd June to the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) and the hon. Member for Dews-bury (Mr. Riley).—[Official Report, 3rd June, 1942; col. 653, Vol. 380.]

In March last a protest was received from the People's National Party of Jamaica against the regulation of West Indian social and economic affairs by the Anglo-United States Caribbean Commission without representation of the British West Indian people. In reply it was explained to the People's National Party that there was no question of the Commission "regulating" West Indian affairs, that its functions were advisory, and that any of its proposals affecting any particular Colony would be subject to appropriate consideration by the Legislature of that Colony.

Mr. Sorensen

Will the right hon. Gentleman secure in due course the figures asked for in the first part of the Question?

Mr. Macmillan

I will do my best, and will communicate with my hon. Friend.