HC Deb 15 December 1954 vol 535 cc1759-60
14. Mr. Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what part of the functions of the High Commissioner for South-East Asia his Department is responsible.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The Commissioner-General for the United Kingdom in South-East Asia is responsible to me for promoting the co-ordination of policy and administration between the Governments of the British dependent Territories in Malaya and Borneo.

Mr. Teeling

In view of that fact, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he was consulted about the recent re-appointment of the High Commissioner for South-East Asia, and whether he does not feel that that person will do a very good job of work, and has his full support?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

This is, of course, the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and myself, jointly. We should not have appointed Mr. MacDonald to this important office if we had not felt that there was valuable work to be done and that he was a good person to do it.

Mr. Stokes

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the persons engaged on his behalf are included in the Foreign Office List, or whether he has a separate number of people?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

There is a Question on that point later today.

Mr. Stokes

I know there is.

Mr. Rankin

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the present High Commissioner is doing his work very well indeed?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Certainly.

Several Hon. Members rose

—

Mr. Speaker

Order. We are making very slow progress today.