HC Deb 05 July 1944 vol 401 cc1141-2
26. Miss Ward

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which Colonies there is adult suffrage and in which merely limited male suffrage.

Colonel Stanley

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the return, presented to this House on 2nd November, 1938 (House of Commons Paper No. 169), together with a note of the changes which have been made since that date or are contemplated in the near future.

Miss Ward

Can a note of the changes be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, so that we may have an up-to-date record?

Colonel Stanley

I will certainly arrange that.

Following is the note:

In 1939 a new Constitution was introduced in Malta, which provided for a Legislature of which a proportion of the members are elected on the basis of male franchise. Beyond this there has been no change. It has been decided to introduce universal suffrage in Jamaica, an alteration which will not be brought into operation before the end of this year. In addition, women have recently been given the vote in Bermuda, on the same qualifications as men, while the franchise qualifications in Barbados were reduced in 1943. The changes were rather detailed, but the general result was to halve the property qualifications, while the income qualification was reduced from £50 a year to £20 a year. The question of the franchise is also under consideration in British Guiana and Trinidad, but I am not yet in a position to say what changes may be made.