HC Deb 16 May 1957 vol 570 cc573-5

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

53. Mr. SHINWELL

To ask the Prime Minister, whether he will state the qualifications which caused him to recommend the appointment of Lord Hailes as Governor-General of the West Indies; and what consultations he had with representative institutions in the West Indies.

Mr. Shinwell

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and with the consent of my hon. Friend the Member for Lady-wood (Mr. V. Yates), I will ask Question No. 53.

The Prime Minister

In accepting this Question I ought to make it clear that I am not derogating from the constitutional position of my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary, whose duty it is to make this recommendation. As to consultation, it is difficult to consult with institutions; but naturally we have been in touch with certain West Indian leaders regarding the qualifications desirable in the first holder of this important appointment.

I have complete confidence that Lord Hailes, with his experience in public affairs, will discharge with distinction his duties to the new West Indies that is emerging.

Mr. Shinwell

I am extremely obliged to the Prime Minister for giving his personal attention to this Question. Has he read the criticism of this appointment which has appeared in the public Press —in a leading article in The Times and in other reputable Press organs? Will he say whether he regards the qualifications of Lord Hailes—so far as we are aware of them—as being satisfactory from the point of view of this new Federation? Finally, can he tell the House why these high qualifications of Lord Hailes were concealed from the House of Commons when he was the Patronage Secretary? Has the Prime Minister just discovered these high qualities? Is this not really a case of political nepotism?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. I think that the third part of that supplementary question is ungenerous and quite unworthy of the right hon. Gentleman. With regard to the first part, I have read the criticism that has appeared in public journals, but it is not always one's duty to yield to criticism. In regard to the second part of the question, in an organisation such as we hope the new West Indies Federation will be—when it is just beginning for the first time to learn the whole system of Parliamentary Government on a new scale, and with new responsibilities—I honestly feel that political experience would be of more value than official experience.

Mr. Gaitskell

Without desiring to make a personal criticism of the former Patronage Secretary, may I ask the Prime Minister if he does not feel that in this period of transition—this very crucial and. perhaps, very difficult period for the West Indies—it would have been wiser to appoint somebody with experience of the West Indies? Further, did the Prime Minister consult the Prime Ministers of Jamaica and Barbados?

The Prime Minister

We consulted certain of the Prime Ministers—I believe that those two were among them; I cannot remember exactly—with regard to the type of qualification, but, not as to the individual—that was our responsibility. I should not have thought that when we are making a constitutional change which we hope to develop into full Dominion status it was a very good plan to have officers who are associated with the older position and situation of the Colony.