HC Deb 04 May 1955 vol 540 cc1661-2
5. Mr. J. Hynd

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is proposed that one or more Africans shall be appointed to the Executive Council of Northern Rhodesia.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I do not consider that the time has yet come when such an appointment could be made with advantage.

Mr. Hynd

As two Africans have been appointed to the Executive Council in Tanganyika, does not the right hon. Gentleman think the time is appropriate for extending the arrangement to Northern Rhodesia?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I think it would be a very great mistake to assume that the pattern of development in one territory must necessarily be followed in another. Northern Rhodesia has been proceeding along the lines that all the members of the Executive Council have portfolios. I have to remember this when considering who should sit on Executive Councils.

Mr. Dugdale

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it really necessary that all the members should have portfolios? If it is thought desirable that there should be an African without a portfolio, could not this point be considered, if there is some difficulty about giving portfolios?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We are now working under the arrangements arrived at by my predecessor, Lord Chandos, which are operating very well. As long as those arrangements continue, membership of the Executive Council necessarily carries with it a portfolio. There is nothing necessarily permanent about that, but that is the way we are working now.