§ Q5. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Prime Minister what indication he has had during his consultations with Mr. Smith as to the date on which universal adult franchise will be introduced in Rhodesia.
§ The Prime MinisterMy last discussions with Mr. Smith were on H.M.S. "Tiger" last December. Neither then nor before was any contemplated date intimated.
§ Sir J. Langford-HoltIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in another place the Lord Chancellor indicated that—[HON. MEMBERS: "Reading"]—I am entitled to do so; this is a statement of policy—that Her Majesty's Government had never looked for immediate majority rule and that the Government had always said—
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member must not quote on a supplementary question.
§ Sir J. Langford-HoltHe said that the Government had always taken the view that Africans were not ready for self-government. Would the Prime Minister explain the apparent contradiction between that and the Government's policy of N.I.B.M.A.R.?
§ The Prime MinisterI have made it clear on a very large number of occasions, to Mr. Smith when I was in Salisbury, in my public statements in Salisbury, and in the House afterwards on very many occasions, that there would be a considerable period before majority rule in Rhodesia was a serious possibility, or should be contemplated. That was the whole basis of what we said on those occasions. That was still our view when we discussed it on H.M.S. "Tiger" with Mr. Smith. We had some discussions about whether particular constitutional proposals would be likely after two or three elections, or whatever it was, to lead to majority rule, but, of course, no date was set in our discussions. There is nothing incompatible between what was said on that occasion and our declaration about N.I.B.M.A.R.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Question Time is over.