HC Deb 23 June 1969 vol 785 cc977-9
6. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of Anguilla.

15. Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement about a long-term solution of the Anguilla problem.

Mr. M. Stewart

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary's reply of 16th June to the hon. Members for Banbury (Mr. Marten) and for Bournemouth, East and Christchurch (Mr. Cordle), to which I have nothing to add.—[Vol. 785, c 12–13.]

Mr. Marten

Will the Foreign Sectary clarify the statement made by his hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State when he arrived in Anguilla, that the Anguillans need not be administered by an Administration that they do not want? Does it or does it not mean that the Anguillans, if they do not wish to be administered from St. Kitts, will not be?

Mr. Stewart

I repeat the assurance which I gave in the House. It is no part of our policy that the people of Anguilla should be under a régime that they do not want. That was repeating and taking up what my hon. Friend had previously said.

Mr. Fisher

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Caribbean Commission, which is to study the problem, is likely to be appointed and when he will be in a position to announce the name of the chairman and the Commission's terms of reference?

Mr. Stewart

I cannot give a date at present, but I hope that there will not be very much delay.

Mr. Braine

Indeed, there was talk, when Mr. Bradshaw was over here, of the Caribbean Commission. As British troops are still in occupation in Anguilla, is there not an element of urgency in this situation? Should not the Caribbean Commission have already been set up?

Mr. Stewart

No, I do not think so. This matter needs consideration and requires agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Associated State. But I will see that there is no unnecessary delay about it.

28. Sir Knox Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the number of visits paid by the Governor of St. Barthelemy to Anguilla during the past 18 months; and what were the reasons for such visits.

Mr. M. Stewart

None, Sir. There is no Governor of Saint Barthelemy. The hon. Gentleman may have in mind Monsieur de Heinem, who is a leading citizen of Saint Barthelemy and who has, I understand, made a number of visits on private business to Anguilla in recent years.

Sir Knox Cunningham

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for the correction. Can he say for what reason the recent visits were made by this gentleman to Anguilla, in his own private aeroplane? Is it not a fact that many people think that he is behind the recent troubles and unrest? What investigation is the right hon. Gentleman making into this?

Mr. Stewart

In the first place, these were private visits by a private individual, about private business. I know of no evidence to support the suggestion that the hon. Member makes, and I do not think that there were any visits in this calendar year.