§ 2. Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the Solomon Islands Government's Special Select Committee on Constitutional Development and the action which is being taken.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Anthony Kershaw)The report was published in the protectorate last month. A motion to take note of the report was debated and passed unanimously by the Governing Council on 15th November. Decisions on the proposals in the report are to be taken in the protectorate after the new council meets in July next year.
§ Mr. Godman IrvineDid the evidence which was gathered for this report indicate that at least the rural areas in the Solomons wish to maintain the closest links with this country? Are increased steps being taken to see that political 5 education is being taken to that part of the protectorate?
§ Mr. KershawYes, Sir. I pay tribute to the thoroughness with which the delegates and members worked on the report and to the responsibility with which they made it. The change will be that there will be a Council of Ministers, if we accept it, but we have not yet received any proposals. I agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of the matter.