HC Deb 13 December 1966 vol 738 c219
2. Mr. Blaker

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have for establishing resident British diplomatic representation at Male.

The Minister of State, Commonwealth Affairs (Mrs. Judith Hart)

None, Sir.

Mr. Blaker

In view of the existence of the air staging post on Gan Island, is it not likely that questions will arise between the British Government and the Maldivian Government which could be more effectively dealt with by a resident representative rather than, as at present, by a representative 300 miles away in Ceylon?

Mrs. Hart

We are finding that all questions can be perfectly well dealt with through the Maldivian Ambassador in Colombo. It is a perfectly normal practice that there should not be a resident representative there, indeed the only one in Male is the representative of the Formosan Government.