HC Deb 01 July 1953 vol 517 c392
41. Mrs. White

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by whose authority provincial and district commissioners in Nyasaland were instructed, on or before 10th May, to inform the local population that Federation had then been decided upon, or that it was certain that the law making Federation would be passed at the Third Reading by the British Parliament, when the Enabling Bill had not at that time reached the Committee stage in the House of Commons and had not been considered in the House of Lords.

Mr. Lyttelton

After the Federation Bill had been read a Second time on 6th May, the Nyasaland Government instructed the Provincial Administration to make it known that Federation had been decided on and to urge all communities to get together with the sincere intention to make the scheme work for the greatest possible good of Nyasaland. The Governor has asked me to convey to the House his regret for this anticipation of the decision of Parliament. He also regrets that, HANSARD not being available, the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition was misquoted as saying: Now that it has been decided upon by Her Majesty's Government instead of: If this becomes the law of the land. I feel sure the House will accept this frank expression of regret for this misinterpretation of the meaning of a Second Reading. I trust the right hon. Gentleman will also accept that the instructions were in full accord, as they were certainly meant to be, with the spirit of the wise words with which he ended his speech on Second Reading.

Mrs. White

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that hon. Members on both sides of the House are very glad to have his explanation for what was a very regrettable act?