HC Deb 20 December 1956 vol 562 cc1450-1
33. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations by what authority Her Majesty's Government will be enabled to provide financial and technical assistance to Colonial Territories after they became independent sovereign States.

Lord John Hope

There is no general authority which would enable Her Majesty's Government to provide financial and technical assistance to independent Commonwealth Territories. Such authority would have to be sought from Parliament as and when occasion arose.

Mr. Robinson

Does that mean that the noble Lord is to do nothing about seeking powers from Parliament to enable such a system to be set up? And why have the Government taken so long to deal with this matter, having in view its urgency as a result of the forthcoming independence of Ghana?

Lord John Hope

if the hon. Member will read the debate during the Committee stage of the Ghana Independence Bill, the Second Reading debate on that Bill, and the debate in this House on 30th November, he will see exactly what Her Majesty's Government's intentions are in this matter.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Would the Under-Secretary agree that in the debate which took place recently on the Motion of an hon. Member opposite, and in the debate on the Ghana Independence Bill, it was shown to be the desire of. I think, the overwhelming majority of this House that the Government should seek authority very quickly to enable us to make public grants to those territories that are now becoming independent, and will the Government bear that in mind, and bring in legislation as soon as possible to implement it?

Lord John Hope

I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman has not forgotten that what we wish to do now is to seek the advice of the other members of the Commonwealth on this whole matter in all its aspects. I think that it would be very much better from the point of view of the Commonwealth and of everyone else to do that before we think of further steps.

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