HL Deb 01 June 1965 vol 266 cc1019-20

2.35 p.m.

Lord OGMORE

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 what proposals they intend to lay before Parliament with reference to the future constitutional status of those colonial territories which do not at present desire independence; and whether they are giving consideration to the proposal for a Consultative Federal Council on the lines of that suggested in a debate on the Motion in this House on February 2, 1955.]

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND FOR THE COLONIES (LORD TAYLOR)

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies is giving considerable thought to the future of those Colonies which are not likely to wish to become independent and may prefer to maintain continuing links with this country. I know that he will take fully into account the views which have been put forward in this House and in another place on this complex problem. Since the noble Lord put forward his suggestion in 1955, many colonial territories have achieved independence. The population involved has shrunk from 65 million to 10 million and the remaining territories are very widely scattered and some are very small indeed. The noble Lord's proposal would therefore require considerable modification.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, is he aware that there are about twenty territories concerned, and although my proposal may need modification, is it not a fact that it is desirable to have a proposal and to put it before these people, before whom at the moment there is nothing?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, the number in fact is 31 and not 20, but many of these are very small indeed. Six have less than 10,000 population, 17 have less than 100,000. Their geographical scatter is enormous, and a federal solution with this country presents enormous technical difficulties. The future of these territories is being carefully considered by my right honourable friend. I do not think I should go further than that, except to say that it is improbable that any one single solution will be suitable for all territories.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, I do not quarrel with the noble Lord's figures, but is it not a fact that it rather depends on whether you call a cluster of territories one or six, as in the Leeward or Windward Islands, whether you make it 31 or 20?

LORD TAYLOR

I think that is a fair point.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while I am aware of the careful consideration that the Colonial Office is now giving to this problem, may I ask whether it is not more than a relationship of the small territories with this country? Is it not a matter of seeking to federate them in some cases, or, indeed, federating them with neighbouring territories?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, those are precisely the sort of matters that my right honourable friend is now considering.

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