§ 21. Sir J. Edenasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the nature of the executive function the Commonwealth Secretariat will acquire; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BottomleyThe functions of the Commonwealth Secretariat were laid down in Part III of the Memorandum agreed by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in June, 1965, and presented to Parliament in July as a White paper (Cmnd. 2713). As indicated in the Memorandum, it is not intended that the Secretariat should have executive functions.
§ Sir J. EdenI welcome the establishment of the Secretariat as a symbol of the spirit of co-operation which should always animate the Commonwealth. Can the Secretary of State confirm that paragraph 13 of Cmnd. 2713 does not mean that the Secretariat will have executive powers to determine the constitutional advance of territories for 15 which this House now ultimately has responsibility?
§ Mr. BottomleyI can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Secretariat has no executive functions at all.
§ Mr. FisherIs a legal section of the Secretariat to be established? I understand that this was one of the matters which was agreed at the Law Conference at Sydney. What progress is being made with that?
§ Mr. BottomleyI am not in a position to say what progress has been made. This matter has been referred to the Secretariat.