HL Deb 18 February 1963 vol 246 cc1154-5
LORD WALSTON

My Lords, I beg leave 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 how many Administrators and Acting Administrators there have been in St. Lucia in the last two years.]

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

My Lords, there have been two Administrators, and five Acting Administrators. One of the Acting Administrators was later appointed to be Administrator.

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, would the noble Lord not agree, in regard to having such a very large number of appointments to what one might describe as a senior executive post at a period of difficulty and considerable problems in the Colony, that if that had occurred in a privately run business it would be a sign of very grave mismanagement at the top and would warrant his having very little confidence in the stability and future of the enterprise in question? If the noble Marquess is with me so far, would he not agree that it is time his Department looked very seriously at the means by which Administrators and Acting Administrators are appointed, so that more permanent arrangements can be made?

THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE

My Lords, I cannot accept the strictures of the noble Lord. I could give a considerable amount of detail about all this, with which perhaps I ought not to weary the House. Perhaps the noble Lord will allow me to give him the details privately. I think that the noble Lord, being himself a substantial landowner in St. Lucia, really knows the situation very clearly. I think he must bear in mind that there are always difficulties on the question of leave; and where you are dealing with a small unit he will appreciate that it is a little more difficult sometimes to make the necessary arrangements than it is with a larger unit. I shall be very pleased to give the noble Lord exact details of these changes, how they came about, and why.

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Marquess for his offer, which I gladly accept, provided that he will allow me to give him some further details, with which I also will not weary your Lordships.