HL Deb 23 July 1956 vol 199 cc3-4
LORD OGMORE

My Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any statement to make on the dismissal of Mr. T. M. Kodwo Mercer from his post as Commissioner for the Gold Coast in London.]

LORD LLOYD

My Lords, under the present Constitution of the Gold Coast, the appointment of the Commissioner in London is a matter which falls completely within the jurisdiction of the Gold Coast Government. Your Lordships will appreciate, I am sure, that it would therefore be inappropriate for Her Majesty's Government to make any statement on the dismissal of Mr. Mercer.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, whilst thanking the noble Lord for a reply, may I ask him whether it is not a fact that external affairs are a matter reserved to the Governor and therefore a matter on which Her Majesty's Government have full say? Secondly, is it not an extraordinary action on the part of whoever was responsible to dismiss the Commissioner here almost at a moment's notice? And thirdly, would the noble Lord like to join with me in thanking Mr. and Mrs. Mercer for the efficient and courteous way in which they have carried out their duties whilst they have been in London?

LORD LLOYD

My Lords, all of us who are his personal friends—I should like to count myself as one—and who know the work that Mr. Mercer has done whilst he has been here, are grateful for that and we shall miss him very much. As regards the rest of the noble Lord's Question, I must refer him to Section 53 (4) of the Gold Coast Constitution, which reads: Appointments, promotions and transfers to a special overseas post and dismissals from such a post shall be made or ordered by the Governor acting on the advice of the Prime Minister. The noble Lord will see, therefore, that, whatever may be his view about foreign affairs, this matter is clearly governed by the Gold Coast Constitution. In these circumstances, I do not think it would be proper for me to make any further comment on what the noble Lord has said.