§ Q2. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister when he intends to announce the amalgamation of the Commonwealth Relations Office and the Colonial Office.
§ The Prime MinisterIntegration of the work of the Commonwealth Relations Office and the Colonial Office will start shortly and the staff of the two offices will be merged into a new Commonwealth Office on 1st August, 1966. It will be necessary to retain for some little time after that two Secretaries of State to deal respectively with relations with the independent Commonwealth and with the affairs of our dependent territories.
§ Mr. HamiltonCan my right hon. Friend say what that will mean in terms of reduced numbers of civil servants?
§ The Prime MinisterA lot depends on the speed with which we are able to agree the terms of independence for a very considerable number of countries at present enjoying colonial status but which will become independent. This should lead to a substantial reduction when we are able to negotiate their independence.