§ 10. Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the territories in his Department will be allowed access to the proposed Commonwealth Secretariat.
§ Mrs. WhiteThe general objectives of the Commonwealth Secretariat, as defined in the communiqué issued by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers at the close of their 1964 meeting, was to strengthen co-operation between the independent Governments of the Commonwealth.
Any contacts between British Colonial Territories and the Secretariat would be a matter for the British Government, who are responsible for their interests.
§ Dame Joan VickersWhile thanking the hon. Lady for that reply, may I ask whether she realises that it may be difficult for some of the smaller dependent territories to become entirely independent in the future? Would it not be a good idea to consider how they might have contact with other parts of the Commonwealth through the Commonwealth Secretariat?
§ Mrs. WhiteThat would have to be considered by the Prime Ministers' Conference, which is being reconvened in June of this year.