§ LORD BROCKWAYMy 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 whether, in view of the unresolved dispute between the Administrations in St. Kitts and Anguilla, they will arrange for a resumed visit of the Parliamentary delegation to make recommendations for a settlement.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, it is less than six months since both parties to the dispute agreed on an interim settlement to run for 12 months. I think we should let the interim arrangements run a little longer while we continue to seek a longterm solution.
§ LORD BROCKWAYYes, my Lords; but is it not the case that, unfortunately, during that interim agreement there has been more alienation than harmony? And, 2 without accepting all the reports of exaggerated differences, would it not be better to anticipate these rather than go into the crisis of an explosion?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the Parliamentary delegation to which my noble friend refers visited Anguilla and St. Kitts at the invitation of the Government of St. Kitts and Anguilla and with the agreement of those people in Anguilla. Therefore, if there were to be any initiative it must, in my view, come from the Government of St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla.