HC Deb 18 February 1958 vol 582 cc1007-8
29. Mrs. Castle

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the constitution and powers of the Council of State in Kenya.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) last Wednesday. The White Paper was published on Thursday, 13th February.

Mrs. Castle

While we all recognise that in a multi-racial society there must be some safeguard for minorities against discriminatory legislation, is it not a fact that Her Majesty's Government have undermined the confidence in the sort of safeguard which the Council of State was intended to be, by their treatment of the African Affairs Board in the Federation? Has not the time come to consider setting up an entirely independent body—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—probably for the Commonwealth as a whole—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—which would discuss—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Short supplementary questions are desirable.

Mrs. Castle

I had almost finished, Mr. Speaker. Has not the time come to consider setting up an independent body for the Commonwealth as a whole which could decide these matters of discriminatory legislation—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—on a purely judicial and not a political basis?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

No, Sir.

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