HC Deb 30 January 1968 vol 757 cc1074-5
5. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the results of the visit of the Parliamentary delegation to St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla.

25. Miss Lestor

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the visit of the delegation of Members of Parliament to St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla.

Mr. George Thomson

As a result of the Parliamentary delegation's discussions with the Premier of St. Kitts/Nevis/ Anguilla on the one hand and leading representatives of the community in Anguilla on the other, Her Majesty's Government have made available a senior British civil servant to assist with the administration of Anguilla during an interim period of up to 12 months and with the object of working towards an agreed long-term solution. This has been done in response to invitations from the St. Kitts Government and the representatives of the Anguillans, both of whom have confirmed their understanding that the people of each island would refrain from hostile actions against individuals or property of the other during the interim period, and that efforts would be made in good faith to restore friendship and harmony. I am most grateful to the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Chapman) for their good offices. Their dedication and industry have made an outstanding contribution to helping towards the solution of this intractable problem.

The relevant correspondence will be placed in the library.

Mr. Marten

May I congratulate our two colleagues on the patience and skill with which they have carried out this mission?

Do the Government now accept direct responsibility for defence and external affairs for the island of Anguilla separate from St. Kitts? Secondly, do the Government accept the validity of action taken by the Anguilla Council which has the approval of the senior British official?

Mr. Thomson

I think that we have made some progress towards finding a solution to this difficult problem. I think in some ways the less I say about some of the details the better, but the legal position remains as laid down by Parliament in the West Indies Act, 1967.

Sir D. Walker-Smith

Will it be within the functions of the senior civil servant to advise on the maintenance of the rule of law in St. Kitts and on the undesirability of the interference by the Executive with the procedures of justice?

Mr. Thomson

The official's functions will be to assist in the administration of Anguilla and to work for a long-term solution acceptable to all concerned. It will, therefore, be open to him to make recommendations to Her Majesty's Government and also to the Government of St. Kitts on the many problems associated with this situation.