HC Deb 27 June 1956 vol 555 cc456-7
6. Mr. Braine

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in securing the agreement of colonial Governments to discuss detailed arrangements for the transfer of members of the Oversea Service to the Special List as envisaged in the White Paper, Command Paper No. 9768.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Alan Lennox-Boyd)

A draft agreement to apply the Special List arrangements to the Nigerian Public Services is now being considered by the Federal and Regional Governments of Nigeria. The arrangements have been welcomed in principle by the Northern and Western Regional Governments while the Federal and Eastern Regional Governments hope to let me have their preliminary views during July.

Mr. Braine

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us were extremely disappointed that the White Paper and the arrangements to which he has just made reference refer only to Nigeria? Is he aware that the situation is quite serious in other Colonies? Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that narrow financial considerations are not holding up a settlement of the wider issue of the reorganisation of this vital service?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I can certainly give that assurance. As I said on 17th May, it is possible to extend the scheme to other territories. As and when Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that circumstances make this extension desirable, then we shall be in a position to do it.