§ 28. Sir R. Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present position with regard to the revised constitutional proposals for British Guiana ; and whether agreement has been reached in the Colony on this matter.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydOn 25th April, 1 informed the House of proposals to introduce an elected element into the Legislative Council and the Executive Council. Since then I have decided, after further consultations with the Governor, that the proposed number of seats in the Legislative Council should be increased from not more than 24 to not more than 28 ; two more elected members and two more nominated members. At the same time, the number of ex officio members of the Executive Council and the Legislative Council would be reduced from four to three.
The announcement locally of this alteration has been welcomed in many quarters, but has not, of course, satisfied those who would like an immediate return to the type of constitution which was suspended in 1953.
An Order in Council to enable effect to be given to these proposals will be laid before Parliament very shortly.
§ Sir R. RobinsonCan my right hon. Friend foreshadow the time when it is hoped to hold these elections in British Guiana?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNot at present.
§ Mr. BevanWill the Minister be good enough to tell the House about the reaction of the various political parties in British Guiana to his latest proposals? Has he so far got agreement with any of them?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI thought that I dealt with that in my Answer, which, perhaps, the right hon. Gentleman will read. I said that the proposal had been welcomed in many quarters but has not satisfied those who want to return to the Waddington Constitution. And, I may add, I have no intention of agreeing to that, nor would any responsible Minister at the present moment.
§ Mr. BevanThat is not the question I asked. The Secretary of State said that this has been accepted in many quarters, but not by those who wish to return to the previous constitution. What I want to know—and it is a very plain question—is whether any political party in British Guiana has expressed agreement with his latest proposals, and, if so, which?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am not able to say that any party has formally given its support, but this I do know, that quite a number of individuals who will have to work the proposed constitution do not regard this as an unreasonable stage in further constitutional development.
§ Mr. BevanWhy does not the right hon. Gentleman be frank with the House? He has just recently been taunting me with lack of information about these matters. Is it not a fact that the political parties in British Guiana do not find his proposals acceptable and that therefore his constitution is dead before it starts?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think that the right hon. Gentleman had better wait and see.