HC Deb 30 July 1959 vol 610 cc663-4
22. Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is now proposed to establish full self-government in British Guiana.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As the House will be aware from the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member on 20th November, 1958, the Governor has appointed a Constitutional Committee to go into the whole question of the form which future constitutional development in British Guiana should take.

I have not yet received the report of this Committee; and until I have been able to consider its recommendations I am unable to make any statement on the matter.

Mr. Brockway

Is it the case that there are likely to be further discussions in September and, if so, in view of the very commendable attitude of the parties in British Guiana since the interim Constitution was introduced, will the right hon. Gentleman give encouragement now to the demand for full self-government for that territory?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

If the hon. Gentleman casts his mind back only a few months, he will realise that when the Committee was set up, it was agreed that I should receive the reports of the Committee, and that I would consider them in consultation with the people who had taken part in the Committee. I have not yet received a report, but I understand from the chairman that he has decided not to submit the main report until he has received certain minority reports which some members of the Committee are preparing. The existence of minority reports shows that it is not quite so simple a matter as the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question might suggest.