§ 20. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when, where, and in what form of words, the Government made it known in March, 1960, that constitutional changes in Northern Rhodesia, other than consequential on the Federal review, could not be ruled out in all circumstances.
§ Mr. H. FraserThe only statement on the question of constitutional change in Northern Rhodesia made at this time was that which my right hon. Friend made in Lusaka on 29th March. He then said:
My colleagues and I have no plans in contemplation to amend the Constitution in Northern Rhodesia, although I cannot, of course, predict the outcome of the review of the Federal Constitution or guarantee that its result may not entail certain consequential changes in territorial Constitutions.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonCan my hon. Friend say whether the United Federal Party leaders in Northern Rhodesia are correct in thinking that the British Government had assured them that there would be no constitutional changes in Northern Rhodesia, other than those consequential on the Federal Review?
§ Mr. FraserIt is worth pointing out that when my right hon. Friend spoke, he had hoped that that procedure would be followed; that there should be a Federal Review prior to the consequential changes taking place in Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia. In point of fact, as the House will know, at the Federal Review Conference held this last December, it was decided by all parties concerned that the local constitutional reviews should proceed.
In addition to that, my hon. Friend will remember that there was the publication of the Monckton Report—[An HON. MEMBER: "Too long."] This is an important question and I am giving an important answer.
Finally, I must point out that it was at the instigation of the people of Northern Rhodesia, the elected members, that constitutional talks were held in relation to Northern Rhodesia.