§ 31. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the proposed constitutional changes in Zanzibar.
Mr. MacleodThe Report of the Constitutional Commissioner, Zanzibar, Sir Hilary Blood, was published in Zanzibar on 16th June, and I have placed copies of the Report in the Library.
Neither His Highness' Government nor Her Majesty's Government have yet had time to study the Report in detail or to formulate their views on the Commissioner's recommendations and it is proposed, after a suitable interval, to allow the public in Zanzibar to study the Report, to convene a meeting of the Zanzibar Legislature to debate the recommendations.
I will await the recommendations of the British Resident in the light of the debate before making a further statement.
§ Mr. BrockwayIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in this case many of us welcome the recommendations which are made in this Report? When the right hon. Gentleman considers those recommendations, will he ask whether Zanzibar is not now in a position in which it can enjoy full internal self-government?
Mr. MacleodI agree that this is a helpful and imaginative Report, but, in view of the terms of my Answer, I do not think that it would be right to anticipate the decision which I shall have to take upon it.