§ Q3. Mr. James Davidsonasked the Prime Minister why different criteria govern the holding of referenda in Commonwealth and United Kingdom territories.
§ The Prime MinisterBecause each Commonwealth Government is independent and responsible for its own constitutional arrangements, Sir.
§ Mr. DavidsonIs the Prime Minister aware that when I suggested in the House on 4th August, 1966, that a referendum should be held in Gibraltar this was turned down, and yet a year later the referendum was held? Will the Prime Minister therefore reconsider the Government's recent decision not to allow the Scottish people a referendum to express their wishes regarding the future government of Scotland?
§ The Prime MinisterAs far as I am aware, no one is, as in the case of Gibraltar, making a take-over bid for Scotland. It was being widely stated in the United Nations and elsewhere that the people of Gibraltar did not want to maintain their relationship with the United Kingdom but wanted to join Spain. That was why we changed the policy, after consultation with the local authorities in Gibraltar. By this time it was their view, though it had not been their view before, that there should be a referendum to make quite clear what the wishes of the Gibraltarians were.
§ Mr. BostonCannot this form of public opinion poll in Britain be just as misleading as any other form of public opinion poll between General Elections? Will my right hon. Friend confirm that he has no intention of introducing referendum systems in Britain?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is, I think, contrary to our general practice under 1582 successive Governments. Whatever the requirement, when it is a question of satisfying international opinion—for example, in the case of Gibraltar; for example, as many have urged, in the case of Rhodesia, though we have put forward a different means of testing opinion there—we have an appropriate way of doing it, but it should not govern our own Constitution.
§ Mr. HeathIn that case, will the Prime Minister give an assurance that if the people of the Falklands and British Honduras also want to have a referendum about their constitutional position, the British Government will agree?
§ The Prime MinisterThat will always have to be considered. At the present time, it is not our view that it is necessary, but my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Commonwealth Secretary have already given guarantees about the interests of the people and the views of the people of the Falkland Islands.