HC Deb 15 February 1962 vol 653 c1512
Q8. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Prime Minister whether the aim stated in his Capetown speech in February, 1960, of a society in which individual merit is the sole criterion for a man's advancement, whether political or economic, remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards those African Territories for which they are responsible.

The Prime Minister

Certainly, Sir. My hon. Friend will have noticed that I mentioned this aim alongside others, including the creation in our Territories of societies which give men the opportunity to grow to their full stature and to share in political power and responsibility.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend, but does he not agree that the purpose of those who are framing the next Northern Rhodesian constitution should be to secure, not a racial majority or racial parity, but a Legislative Council of responsible members who are, in the words of the 1958 White Paper, free from any obligation to promote the partisan interests of any one race"?

The Prime Minister

All those matters were specially borne in mind and will be borne in mind.