§ 3.55 p.m.
THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALIS-BURY)My Lords, I am very reluctant to intervene on a different subject in the middle of a debate so important as this, but there is a Statement which is being made in another place and which it is equally important should be made here. I think your Lordships will therefore forgive me if I intervene for a very few minutes in order to make it. It relates to the forthcoming independence of Ghana.
As the House knows, the Ghana Independence Bill received the Royal Assent on February 7. The effect of this measure is to provide that, as from March 6, Ghana becomes a fully independent sovereign state within the British Commonwealth. I ant glad to be able to say that after consultation with other Commonwealth Prime Ministers they have all agreed that Ghana shall, as from March 6, be recognised as a member of the Commonwealth. The importance of this occasion, which brings the first British dependency in tropical Africa to membership of the Commonwealth, will be emphasised by the visit to Accra for the Ghana Independence celebrations of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, who, with Her Majesty's gracious consent, will represent the Queen at the celebrations. The House will, I know, share the pleasure of the Government and people of the United Kingdom, and indeed of the Government and people of Ghana, that Her Majesty is to be represented in this way. I am also able to announce that Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will be represented by a delegation led by my right honourable friend the Home Secretary and Lord Privy Seal and including my noble friend the Minister of State for Colonial Affairs, and the United Kingdom High Commissioner in Ghana. The Government intend to mark the occasion with an appropriate gift to the Government of Ghana.
1185 Arrangements are also being made for representation at the ceremonies of the General Council of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and of the United Kingdom branch of the Association. This latter delegation will consist of my noble friend Lord Dundee, the right honourable gentleman the Member for Lianelly and my honourable friend the Member for Wycombe. The British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will be represented by the right honourable gentleman the Member for Coble Valley. The Armed Forces of the United Kingdom will be represented by a cruiser, "Ceylon," with a Royal Marine detachment embarked; by a frigate, H.M.S. "Mounts Bay" and by detachments of the Royal Air Force, including four Valiant aircraft. All other Commonwealth Governments will be represented at the Independence ceremonies to which certain of them will, in addition, be sending representatives or units of their Armed Forces.
§ 3.58 p.m.
§ LORD SILKINMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friends I should like to assure the House that we have had very great pleasure in listening to this statement. We should like to associate ourselves completely with the steps that are being taken to mark this great occasion, and it is certainly with great pleasure that I see that some of my own friends are being connected with the celebrations. I should like to ask the noble Marquess whether it is intended that there should be any sort of function in this country to mark the occasion, and, if not, whether he would consider it.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I understand it is intended that there should be a religious service of celebration in this country; but it is surely appropriate that the main celebration should be in Ghana itself.
THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURYMy Lords, may I be allowed to amplify that statement? I was going to ask if I might intervene. Just as the noble Lord has associated himself and his friends, so I very particularly, on behalf of Christian opinion in this country and the Church of England, should like to associate myself most warmly with this step. It is the fact that on the day when Ghana attains independence, at the 1186 Church of St. Martin in the Fields, by arrangement with the Gold Coast Association, there will be a religious service for all those who can attend. I trust that noble Lords here present will recognise its importance as marking this great step in the development of the Commonwealth.