HL Deb 29 April 1963 vol 249 cc4-5

2.42 p.m.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will introduce a Bill to give the Colonial Development Corporation power to start new schemes in Commonwealth countries, and to change the name of the Corporation.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COLONIAL AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE)

My Lords, I hope that such a Bill will be introduced in the near future. We have decided to widen the scope of the Bill by covering certain other matters as well. These additional matters have not quite reached finality, though they have nearly done so.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, may I ask the noble Marquess what he means by the "near future"? Does he mean this Session? If he does not mean this Session, may I ask him whether he means the next Session of Parliament? May I also point out to him that there has been a long delay, and that many people feel that the delay has already caused damage to the C.D.C. itself as well as to the Commonwealth countries?

THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE

I cannot accept the last point put forward by the noble Earl. I accept that there has been delay, because I remember announcing last July that this Bill would come into action. As to my definition, I can only say that it is a little nearer to the future than "the future".

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, if it is nearer to the future, is the future of the Colonial Development Corporation nearer to the future than the programme the Government are preparing for Britain in the 'Seventies?