Constitutional Talks (Hansard, 18 December 1958)

§ 3. Mr. Wall
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement about the recent constitutional talks with the Basutoland delegation.

§ 6. Mr. Brockway
asked the Under- Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the discussions with representatives of Basutoland on constitutional development in the Protectorate.

§ 7. Mr. J. Johnson
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement regarding the constitutional talks with the Basutoland delegation.

§ Mr. Alport
The talks with the Basutoland delegation have now been successfully concluded and my noble Friend will be making a full statement on the subject today in another place. A statement of the conclusions reached will be laid before Parliament in due course.

§ Mr. Wall
Will this statement cover economic questions as well as those of constitutional advance?

§ Mr. Alport
No. This statement will concern itself entirely with the negotiations which have been proceeding over the last week concerned with the constitutional progress of Basutoland.

§ Mr. Brockway
Does the hon. Member mean that a statement is to be made in another place and no statement is to be made to the House of Commons? The House of Commons has the main responsibility in this matter. Why is the hon. Member deciding it?

§ Mr. Alport
It is entirely appropriate, and I am sure that it would be the wish of the Basuto delegation that an important statement of this sort should be made by the Secretary of State himself, and that is the intention today.

§ Mr. Brockway
And also made here.

§ Mr. Alport
I have said in my answer that a statement of the conclusions reached will be laid before Parliament in due course. That will give the House a full opportunity of studying the full details, and the matter will be available to be raised at any appropriate time in the future.

§ Mr. Bottomley
In view of the exceptional circumstances of the House meeting this morning and a statement to be made in another place later in the day, would it not be discourteous not to impart this information to the House? May I suggest to the hon. Member that he might seek the consent of the Secretary of State, with your permission, Mr. Speaker, for this statement to be made to the House at the end of Questions?

§ Mr. J. Johnson
While I support what my hon. Friend the Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) said, may I ask, having regard to what The Times said this morning and not having heard the statement, whether we may be allowed to be optimistic about it? Can the Minister at least give us a hint about that?

§ Mr. Alport
May I draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to the phrase which I used in the Answer— The talks with the Basutoland delegation have now been successfully concluded.…

§ Mr. Brockway
On a point of order. I should like to seek your guidance in this matter, Mr. Speaker, for the honour and prestige of the House. Negotiations have been proceeding with the Basutoland delegation about the future constitution of Basutoland. Recognising the prestige of the House, is it in order that on the last day a statement should be made in another place but that we should have no statement in the House of Commons?

§ Mr. Speaker
That is not a point of order for me.