§ Considered in Committee.
§ [Sir SAMUEL STOREY in the Chair]
§ 10.0 p.m.
§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Bowden)I beg to move,
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that Her Majesty will give directions that there be presented, on behalf of this House, a bookcase containing Parliamentary and Constitutional reference hooks, to the House of Representatives of Kenya, and assuring Her Majesty that this House will make good the expenses attending the same.I am most happy to move this Motion, which is in the now established tradition of this House that we send a gift to the Legislature of a Commonwealth country to mark that country's entry into the Commonwealth. It is a tradition which we are glad to honour.The Committee will recall that, in December, 1963, the then Prime Minister, in reply to a Question, informed the 738 House that Her Majesty's Government would propose that the House should offer to the House of Representatives of Kenya a gift of a bookcase containing Constitutional and Parliamentary works of reference. The Parliamentary authorities in Kenya, whose wishes were naturally consulted, welcomed this proposal and a bookcase was specially designed and appropriate books chosen. The gift is on display within the Palace of Westminster for hon. and right hon. Members to see.
If the Committee accepts this Motion, as I feel sure it will wish to do, arrangements will be made by Mr. Speaker for a small delegation from the House to present the gift with our best wishes. We understand that a presentation could conveniently be made next February or March.
I therefore commend this Motion to the Committee in the expectation that it will be accepted as an expression of our friendship and good will towards the House of Representatives of Kenya.
§ 10.3 p.m.
§ Mr. Nigel Fisher (Surbiton)The Opposition welcome very warmly the making of this gift to the Parliament of Kenya. It is a little late, perhaps, if it is an independence gift, but is none the less an indication of our close and friendly relations with this very important African Commonwealth country. Those of us who have been to Kenya, especially those who have been recently, have been greatly impressed by the way in which Kenya is being governed and the happy relations which exist between not only the Government but the people of Kenya and those of European descent who have made their lives and futures in Kenya.
This is perhaps mainly due to the statesmanship of President Kenyatta, who has led his country with wisdom, tolerance and strength since Kenya attained her independence. I was in Kenya earlier this year and I had the pleasure of attending Question Time on one day and a debate on another day. The traditions of the debate, guided by an experienced, firm and very fair Speaker—in your own best traditions, Sir Samuel—were a source of encouragement and admiration to a visitor from this House.
739 We hope that this gift of reference books—which I imagine includes a copy of Erskine May—will be helpful and useful in maintaining the traditions of Parliamentary debate which we have evolved, which we taught to Kenya and which she has so readily learned and accepted in her own Parliament. We wish her well.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Resolution to he reported.
§ Report to be received tomorrow.