§ 3.33 p.m.
LORD LLOYDMy Lords, with your Lordships' permission, I should like to make a statement on British Caribbean Federation, similar to that being made in another place by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies. It will be recalled that at the London Conference of April, 1953, delegates from Barbados, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Windward Islands agreed on a Plan for a British Caribbean Federation. Her Majesty's Government welcomed the agreement reached on this Plan, and stated that if the Territories desired to adopt it they were prepared to take the measures indicated to the Conference to enable the Federation to be set up. The Plan was then referred to the Legislatures of those Territories for their approval. The Federal Plan has now been adopted by all the Legislatures of the Territories concerned. Her Majesty's Government have been most happy to learn of this general agreement.
In accordance with the suggestion made in the West Indies, Her Majesty's Government will shortly call a Conference of representatives of West Indian Governments to reconsider the question of the control of the movement of persons between one member Territory of the proposed British Caribbean Federation and another. In the meantime, in the expectation of agreement between West Indian Governments on the control of movement of persons, Her Majesty's Government will proceed with the next steps towards a Federation. In order that the fiscal Civil Service and judicial arrangements for the Federation may be worked out with the minimum of delay, Her Majesty's Government propose to appoint three Commissions for this purpose. The Comptroller for Development and Welfare in the West Indies is being designated Commissioner for the preparation of the Federal Organisation. These Commissions and the Comptroller will carry out their tasks in the West Indies in close touch with Territorial Governments, and will seek the advice of regional bodies such as the Regional Economic Committee.
A final Plan, taking into account the results of the work of the three Commissions, 921 of the Commissioner for the preparation of the Federal Organisation, and of the Conference on Movement, will then be drawn up. Meanwhile, in order to save time at a later stage, as much work as possible will be done on the constitutional instruments. They will provide for additions to the Federation if other Territories later wish to join it. The Plan will be laid before a final West Indian Conference to which West Indian Governments will be asked to send plenipotentiary delegates. When a final Plan has been agreed by the Conference the Secretary of State will then ask Parliament to pass the necessary United Kingdom legislation.
I am sure that all Parties in your Lordships' House will join with me in welcoming this significant step, and the fact that we may now look forward to the establishment of a British Caribbean Federation.
§ EARL JOWITTMy Lords, as the noble Lord anticipated, we should most certainly wish to be associated in welcoming what he describes as a significant step. It has taken a long time to bring it about. We started work on this scheme soon after the war—I think the first Conference at Montego Bay was quite shortly after the war. The Government have gone on with those plans, and I think they are to be congratulated on having got them to this satisfactory conclusion. I think, further, that we ought to pay our tribute to the various member countries who are going to form this Federation, because many of them have had to exercise restraint, to make concessions and so on, in order to make this agreement possible. I think that reflects the greatest credit on all of them. I hope that that sort of temper will prevail, and that the good work which has been, and is being, done will be carried to a happy and successful conclusion. From this side of the House I wish this Federation all possible good luck.
§ VISCOUNT SAMUELMy Lords, all sections of your Lordships' House will wish to join in congratulating the people of the West Indies that the long and slow movement towards the creation of a Federal Constitution has now reached its consummation. That movement has been fostered in its early stages by Governments here at Westminster of all Parties, and the present Government are entitled 922 to much credit for the sympathy, understanding and active encouragement that they have given to it. It will be a privilege for them to propose shortly to Parliament the necessary constitutional measures. At some appropriate moment in the future, I am sure that your Lordships would wish to express your cordial good wishes to the peoples of these Territories for their future prosperity and happiness under the new self-governing institutions that are now about to be inaugurated.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord one question, arising out of his Statement? As the Comptroller for Development and Welfare in the West Indies will now have this new and important function as Commissioner for the preparation of the Federal Organisation, will he be given additional staff for this purpose?
LORD LLOYDMy Lords, the answer to the noble Earl, so far as I know, is, Yes. It is clear that he will have a good deal more work to do, and obviously we must enable him to do it. All that has been taken into account in the arrangements that are being made.