22. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether consideration can be given to the appointment of a West Indian to serve on the Joint Commission with the United States concerned with problems and future development of the West Indies?
§ 27. Mr. Rileyasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the desirability of selecting at least one qualified West Indian representative to serve on the British panel for the Anglo-American Commission for work in the West Indies?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanThe appointment of a West Indian to serve on the Anglo-American Commission has already been considered. It would not be possible, however, to make a single appointment to represent all the Colonies concerned, and to have unofficial representatives of each Colony would make the Commission unwieldy. My hon. Friends will, of course, appreciate that the Commission is purely advisory and that its recommendations will be subject to the appropriate consideration by the legislatures of the Colonies concerned.
Mr. Creech JonesWhile appreciating the practical difficulties, may I ask whether it is not about time that when social and economic development is involved the people who are vitally concerned with the recommendations should at least have the opportunity of sharing in their making?
§ Mr. MacmillanYes, Sir, but my hon. Friend says that he recognises the practical importance of keeping these Commissions small.
§ Mr. RileyIs the Minister aware of the strong feeling in the West Indies that at least one representative West Indian should be nominated for the British section of the Commission?