Constitution (Discussions) (Hansard, 29 July 1958)

§ 44. Mr. Stonehouse
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on his discussions with Sir Arthur Benson and the delegation from Northern Rhodesia with regard to constitutional changes.

§ 65. Mr. Wall
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on his talks with the Governor of Northern Rhodesia.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I have at present nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) yesterday.

§ Mr. Stonehouse
Can the Colonial Secretary give an assurance that no changes will be imposed in the Protectorate before the House has had a chance of debating them? Will he bear in mind that there is widespread opposition, not only in Northern Rhodesia, but also in this House, to the proposals which will give a majority to the European minority, which is only 3 per cent. of the country's population?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I could not accept the hon. Member's description of the White Paper proposals, but I will be quite frank with the House: it will be necessary to advise Her Majesty to make constitutional instruments during the Recess in order that the Government of Northern Rhodesia may proceed with the registration of voters under the new franchise proposals to enable the holding of a new election within the time limits imposed under the present constitutional instruments. The House knows my difficulty, and also knows that I have been long urged to get on with the task of constitutional development in Northern Rhodesia.

§ Mr. Brockway
On a point of order. Will Her Majesty's Government have the power to impose these constitutional changes without an Order in Council, which should lie upon the Table and be open to debate by the House of Commons?

Mr. Speaker
I am not sure about the facts of this Order, but usually there are safeguards for the House in proper cases. But there is no power to prevent a Government Department making an Order generally during the Recess.

§ Mr. Callaghan
I am sure that the whole House and the Leader of the House will agree that this is an unusual situation, in which substantial constitutional modifications are apparently to be made, and the House of Commons will have no opportunity of pronouncing upon them even though the final responsibility is that of the House of Commons. Will the Leader of the House consider the position which is likely to arise, so that we can have a statement, if the situation is so far 1141 advanced, before the House rises, so that we might all have further time to consider what changes are to be made?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Perhaps I may answer for Her Majesty's Government. I understand the difficulties but I do not believe that there would be a different policy, whichever party was in power, in regard to the proceedings during the next few months. We cannot stop the necessary work during the Recess. I have given a great deal of thought to this matter, and I should be willing to arrange that the Order should be in two parts and it would then be the second which would enable the changes to take place. We could consider, through the usual channels, whether the House would wish to discuss proposals before an election could take place.

§ Mr. Wall
Is not it a fact that the delay has been caused by the long discussions about the Constitution?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Yes, it has been thoroughly thrashed out.

§ Mr. Callaghan
Are we likely to have a statement about the proposed machinery before the House rises?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Not in addition to what I have said. I think that what I have said will ensure that the House, if it wishes at the time, will be able to have a discussion before irrevocable action is taken.

§ Mr. Brockway
On a point of order. Grave issues are involved here for the whole of Central Africa. If there were a demand by hon. Members for a sitting of the House before these proposals are put through, would you take it into consideration, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker
The only provision made in our Standing Orders for the recall of the House is in Standing Order No. 112. Unless that were put into operation, there would be no way of recalling the House.