§ 3.19 p.m.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)My Lords, I wonder whether I might interrupt the proceedings of your Lordships' House for a few moments in order to make a statement upon Nigeria similar to one which is being made in another place by my right honourable friend the Colonial Secretary. The statement is as follows.
The Lagos Conference continued and completed the work of the conference held in London last summer. I am glad to be able to inform the House that it was an unqualified success. All the conclusions 796 which were reached at Lagos were arrived at by general agreement. The fears, which had been expressed in some quarters, and indeed in this House as well, that my right honourable friend's decision at the London Conference to make Lagos Federal territory would make this impossible, have proved unfounded. My right honourable friend welcomes this opportunity of paying tribute to the spirit of good will in which all the delegations approached the task. All the delegations showed a remarkable insight into the niceties of constitutional checks and balances and displayed a willingness to sink sectional interests for the common good.
The report of the Lagos Conference has been published to-day as a White Paper and will be available to noble Lords. Revised constitutional instruments will now be prepared, in accordance with the conclusions reached at both conferences, for submission to Her Majesty. The work involved is massive, but I hope they will be ready in about six months' time. The revised Constitution will be reviewed again at a further conference of similar composition to be held not later than August, 1956, when any question relating to the Constitution will be open for discussion. It is my right honourable friend's view that the constitutional arrangements agreed upon at the London and Lagos conferences are based upon the realities of the political situation in Nigeria at the present time and offer the form of governmental structure most likely to prove generally acceptable and workable for the time being.
The considerable differences which still exist between the Regions are recognised by giving increased functions to the Regional Governments and making those Governments more independent of the Central Government in carrying them out. At the same time the Central Government not only retain the functions essential to preserving the unity of Nigeria but also, through the introduction of separate elections to the Federal Legislature, gains strength and independence within its sphere. The new arrangement under which the Southern Cameroons will cease to be part of the Eastern Region but will continue to be administered as part of Nigeria, as quasi-Federal territory, was worked out in agreement with the representatives of the Southern Cameroons. It 797 is welcome to them and was endorsed by the other Nigerian delegations.
The insulation from politics of the judiciary, the police and the public service has been secured with general approval. Arrangements have been agreed for the public service which, whilst being in my right honourable friend's view fair to those who wish to retire, should encourage the majority to stay on. Furthermore, the leaders of the Nigerian delegations have made a most helpful statement about their attitude towards the future employment of overseas staff. The decisions taken in London and confirmed at Lagos to regionalise the public service and the judiciary have been criticised on grounds of expense and administrative inconvenience. I would, however, remind the House, that even the smallest of the three Regions in Nigeria, with a population of 6,360,000, is, with the exception of Tanganyika, bigger than any other British Colonial Territory anywhere else in the world. I cannot repeat too often that Her Majesty's Government firmly believe that it is in the interests of the peoples of Nigeria that the unity of the country should be preserved. It is my right honourable friend's hope—indeed, his continued hope—that the work done in London and Lagos will serve to maintain and foster that unity and to promote the progress and happiness of all the people of Nigeria.
§ LORD MACDONALD OF GWAENYSGORMy Lords, speaking on behalf of my noble colleagues, I welcome this statement, but I know I shall not be expected to comment on it to-day. We shall certainly study the White Paper. I should like to ask one question: whether the date referred to for the further conference—namely, August, 1956—was an agreed date. Before the noble Earl answers, I wish to assure the House that we are in full sympathy with the last statement he made regarding the Minister's hopes of the future.
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, that is an agreed date. It has been agreed that the conference should be opened in August, 1956.