HC Deb 29 June 1962 vol 661 cc1540-7

11.8 a.m.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Hugh Fraser)

I beg to move, in page 3, line 29, to leave out from "Act" to the end of line 31.

As I explained on Second Reading, we had to have a special provision lest the dissolution of federation should not have been completed before the date of Jamaican independence so as to safeguard the position of civil servants and others. Now that federation has been dissolved, the Amendment is put forward accordingly.

Mr. G. M. Thomson (Dundee, East)

I wonder whether the Under-Secretary could take this opportunity to reassure the Committee that the problems relating to the compensation of former federal civil servants have now been satisfactorily resolved. He will recall that at the last stage when we discussed this matter, the civil servants were still feeling that they wished to have direct discussions with Her Majesty's Government. I wonder whether the Minister can give us any further information and tell us that the compensation arrangements have now been accepted.

Mr. Fraser

I think that these compensation arrangements are completely satisfactory.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 4 and 5 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

First and Second Schedules agreed to.

Bill reported, with an Amendment; as amended, considered.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Bill be now read the Third time.

11.10 a.m.

Mr. Arthur Henderson (Rowley Regis and Tipton)

I should like to say a few words on the Motion because it was not possible for me to be present to intervene on Second Reading. In recent years I have come to have a close connection with Jamaica. I have stayed there on several occasions and have come to have a little knowledge of the conditions in the island.

I should like to say how much I admire the sterling qualities of the people of Jamaica. I have come to realise that, coupled with their aspirations for self-government, there is a strong attachment to the connection they have with the British people and with our own Government. I am sure that they will carry with them into their new status of independence within the Commonwealth a firm desire to maintain and, indeed, even to intensify the close relations they have had with us during the past 300 years. I do not think that anyone who looks at the history of Jamaica during those years will disagree with me when I say that the British influence has done a great deal for the people of that island. In legal developments, and in industrial, agricultural, educational and political developments the influence of Britain is seen.

I feel, however, that the people of Jamaica have one great anxiety which they manifest whenever one has the opportunity of talking to them, and that is about the possibility of disaster overtaking their economy in the event of this country entering the Common Market, unless adequate safeguards are agreed to by the Six. The agricultural industry of the island is based on citrus, bananas and sugar and the United Kingdom is far and away the largest market for the citrus and banana products not only of Jamaica but of the other islands in the West Indies. It would be a calamity if soon after the Jamaicans start off on their own feet as an independent people within the Commonwealth they should be faced with the very serious economic situation which would arise unless steps are taken, as I hope and believe they will be, to safeguard them. I cannot believe that our Government will go into the Common Market unless adequate safeguards are provided not only for the agricultural products of Jamaica but for the products of the other West Indian islands as well, quite apart from other parts of the Commonwealth.

I should like to say that, as a good friend of Jamaica, I am one of those who regret the Jamaican decision to withdraw from the West Indies Federation. I believe that it would have been very much in the political, economic and social interests of Jamaica as well as of the other islands in the Federation and I can only hope that as time passes it may not be too late for that concept once again to be looked at and perhaps accepted by the Jamaican people.

I have come to have a high regard for their political leaders. The Jamaican people are fortunate in having leaders like Sir Alexander Bustamente and Mr. Norman Manley to guide and influence them during what may be difficult days ahead. They are also fortunate in having younger men coming along who will be able to take over from these leaders in due course of time.

I am sure that the people of Jamaica will realise that it will not be all honeymoon. It was one thing for them to look to this country, as indeed they were entitled to do, and for this country to do what it has done in many spheres to look after them. Now they will have to stand on their own feet, though I am sure that our own Government and the Government of the United States will play a large part in helping the new leaders of Jamaica to maintain stability in the island by advancing the standards of living and improving the national position.

Cuba is only 70 miles' away from Jamaica. Democracy is judged everywhere by its fruits and it is vitally important that we should seek to do everything possible to ensure that Jamaica, nurtured as it has been over the past 300 years by Parliamentary democracy, continues to have the appreciation of the workings of Parliamentary democracy which it has shown hitherto. I believe that there is a deep faith in individual liberty throughout the island, but if there is social discontent and poverty and the country remains behind others in the advance towards an improved standard of living we may find that the influences which radiate from Cuba may begin to have an effect. I am sure that both sides of our own House of Commons are agreed that it is vitally important that we should do everything possible to ensure that the new Jamaica makes a success of its future.

I wish god-speed to all those who are connected with this new venture, and I express the hope that the relationships between Jamaica and Britain will be even warmer than they have been in the past.

11.18 p.m.

Mr. Ronald Russell (Wembley, South)

Like the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson), I was not able to attend the debate on Second Reading. I should like to echo his sentiments and wish god-speed to the people of Jamaica in their new venture.

About seven years ago I had the pleasure of a short visit there with several hon. Friends on a Parliamentary delegation, and we had a very happy time. I cannot help feeling that Jamaica is one of the happiest countries in the Commonwealth. The Jamaicans certainly seem to work democracy on a two-party system quite successfully. I only wish that they had found it possible to stay inside the West Indies Federation and help the rest of the Caribbean territories towards independence and self-government. But it was not to be, and one can only wish them all possible success in their own venture towards independence at the beginning of August.

I would also echo what the right hon. and learned Gentleman said about the danger to Jamaica of our possible entry into the Common Market. If that takes place, I hope that Jamaica will be given the status of an associated overseas territory, which seems to me to be the only way to help her. Her citrus industry is vitally important to her, and so are her sugar and cigar industries in a lesser way, as well as other commodities. Jamaica is an island which could easily fall into grave distress if not assisted in the way she is being assisted now by the Commonwealth preference system and other arrangements. I hope that will be borne in mind.

I wish the people of Jamaica all possible success on achieving their independence.

11.20 a.m.

Colonel Sir Harwood Harrison (Eye)

Before the Bill leaves the House I should also like to underline the very wise remarks of the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson). I am sure that he expressed the views of many of us as back-benchers by what he said.

The Bill has been welcomed, rightly, by all sections of the House, but I entirely agree with the right hon. and learned Gentleman that it is rather sad that this has come about. At a time in the world's history when people are rather more getting together, any breakup of a federation cannot be viewed entirely with pleasure. Jamaica will now have independence, but independence brings responsibilities, as no doubt Jamaica will realise. I hope—I am sure that my hopes are not misplaced—that Jamaica will also realise that she still has a big part to play in the West Indies. As we, the centre of the Commonwealth, help her in regard to her economic position, so she can do for some of the smaller islands which are even worse off than she is.

I add my tribute and hope that all will be well for Jamaica both economically and politically in the future.

11.23 a.m.

Mr. G. M. Thomson

Unlike my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) and the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell), I was present at the Second Reading of the Bill but was suffering from an enforced silence. Perhaps I may be excused for adding a few words of good wishes to Jamaica now.

Anybody who has had the good fortune to visit Jamaica and meet the many notable political personalities that she has produced is bound to feel that this is a very important occasion. We all hope that Jamaica will enjoy a rich and fruitful period of independence.

In the present pace of development towards independence in the colonial world, Jamaica could have become independent a long time ago if she had been left to herself, but she preferred to try to work in a larger form of independence through the West Indies Federation. In common with other hon. Members. I regret that the grander scheme did not come to fruition.

But Jamaica is well qualified to enjoy the status that she is now attaining. In an area of the world which is not notable generally for democratic stability—the Caribbean—she is a shining example of how our Parliamentary system can be transplanted into other soils. Without expressing any opinions about her General Election results, the effect was that a Government became an Opposition and an Opposition became a Government, and the process took place without any violence—with the acceptance of the population—and in the course of it the extremist parties suffered very badly at the polls. I thought this was in many ways a tremendous encouragement in a world where events of this kind are becoming increasingly rare. The example which Jamaica gives of both democratic stability and racial tolerance is of very great importance both in the Caribbean and in the world as a whole.

Those of us who have visited Jamaica are bound to admire the economic drive that she puts behind her plans for industrialisation and expansion. The very pace of the economic development creates its own problems. We shall watch with anxious concern the way Jamaica faces up to the tensions and difficulties which have been created, and we shall all hope that the British Government of the day will find it possible to give as generous help as they can to Jamaica when she needs it.

I hope the Minister will feel able to take the opportunity of reassuring Jamaica about how far we are seeking to safeguard her interests in the Common Market negotiations. All of us will hope that Jamaica will feel able to play a leading rôle in the Caribbean in making the common services organisation which is now being created an effective organ of co-operation throughout the area and perhaps in the long run the foundation of some closer association between the various territories in the Caribbean.

We bid farwell to Jamaica in one rôle this morning, but what is most of all in our minds is that we are now welcoming her as a fully independent member of the Commonwealth. I believe that Jamaica, under her notable political leaders, will have an important rôle to play in our multiracial Commonwealth. I believe she will have an important rôle to play in the Caribbean, which is one of the key areas of the world in present circumstances. The speeches which have been made indicate that from every quarter of the House the very warmest good wishes go to Jamaica on achieving her independence.

11.26 a.m.

Mr. H. Fraser

I should like to echo the warmth of feeling manifested on all sides of the House on this important Third Reading. Remarks have been made with regard to federation, the Common Market and financial aid to Jamaica, and I should like to answer them.

With regard to what has been said about the Caribbean, we all regret the end of the Federation, but I think one can be assured that the establishment of Jamaica as a strong independent member of the Commonwealth will bring greater stability to the area. Looking further afield, I think it is not unfair to say that in the last two months the pattern has become clearer. With the dissolution of the Federation, the emergence of the independent territories of Jamaica and Trinidad and the grouping of the "Little Eight" is now acceptable, for which I think my right hon. Friend deserves some credit.

I agree with what was said by the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) about the importance of the common services organisation. Meetings will take place between the "Little Eight", and the Trinidad and Jamaican Governments on 10th July. Wider than that, I believe what is essential now is to build strong individual units which at a later stage will perhaps enable an even wider phase of federation to come about in the group of freedom-loving peoples within the whole Caribbean area.

With regard to what was said about the Common Market, Sir Alexander Bustamente is, I believe, arriving tomorrow evening, doubtless with a considerable display of panache. I hope he has had a good trip. Next week we shall be having financial talks with him, which will be limited by what we can do. I assure the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) that the Lord Privy Seal will be meeting Sir Alexander to discuss some of the points which he and my hon. Friend the Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) mentioned. Therefore, I can assure the House that we shall ensure that the interests of Jamaica are safeguarded as far as they can be.

I join other hon. Members in wishing Jamaica well in her freedom and in facing the problems which lie ahead. It is now just 301 years since the appointment of Sir Edward Doyley expressed British "governance", as it was then called, for the island of Jamaica. Let us hope that when Jamaica becomes fully independent she will play the great rôle we all expect of her within the British Commonwealth of Nations as a free and excellent member thereof.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed.