§ 3.45 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMBefore the noble Viscount, Lord Alexander of Hillsborough, rises, I wonder whether it will be convenient to him or to the House if the two statements are taken now. I think we should like to hear him without those statements in our minds.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COLONIAL AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF PERTH)My Lords, the Kenya Conference ended on April 6. With a few exceptions, all delegates, including the leaders of the main political Parties, signed a document setting out the framework of a new Constitution. The details are to be worked out by the new Coalition Government now being formed. A report on the proceedings of the Conference was approved on April 6 and will be published shortly as a White Paper. We have now begun the process of co-operation by which alone Kenya's urgent political and economic problems can be tackled. The problems have not been solved but the way to their solution has been pointed out.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friends on this side I should like to thank the noble Earl for his statement. I should like to say how satisfactory we find it that the main political Parties have been able to agree on a future Constitution and the formation of a Coalition Government. We hope they will continue to work together in the same spirit for the good of Kenya.
§ THE EARL OF PERTHMy Lords, I am sure we all agree with the point made by the noble Earl, that it is now up to the people and the leaders of Kenya. We hope that, having found unity, they will carry on and work out their own problems.