§ 5. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the proposals of Her Majesty's Government for the revised Constitution of Swaziland will be announced.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe Report of the Swaziland Constitutional Committee raised a number of issues requiring further consideration on which I am consulting the High Commissioner. I have in the meantime asked the High Commissioner to arrange for publication, both of the Report and of a Dispatch setting out my own views, so as to facilitate public discussion of these issues in Swaziland before decisions are taken about the new Constitution.
§ Mr. BrockwayWhile welcoming that expression of democracy, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he could say when these documents are likely to be published? In the consideration of future plans, will the right hon. Gentleman include the extension of some voting rights to the African population and ensure that in the Legislature the proportions of African and European representatives are in accordance with the population?
§ Mr. MaudlingI think that there is here a little jumping the gun. I hope to have the report and the dispatch published in the near future. I cannot give the exact date. Then I should like to see a good deal of public discussion in Swaziland of the merits of the various problems before we start crystallising our ideas.
§ Mr. BrockwayWill the documents be available to hon. Members?
§ Mr. MaudlingI will certainly see that they are available.