§ LORD SORENSENMy 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 is the present position in respect of Anguilla; for how long British police will remain in the island; and what progress has been made in securing harmonious agreement between Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE. FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, so far as the situation in Anguilla is concerned, I am glad to say that the island remains calm. Law and order is being satisfactorily maintained, and good progress is being made with the development projects being undertaken by the contingent of Royal Engineers stationed there. As was stated by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister in another place on April 16, the police are there because they are needed. Their function is to assist Her Majesty's Commissioner in his task of maintaining law and order, and they will remain there so long as their presence is required in this role. The future of Anguilla is, as the House knows, at present being considered by the Commission sitting under the chairmanship of Sir Hugh Wooding.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that very encouraging reply, may I ask him whether he can give an approximate date on which some decision will be made regarding the relationship of these three islands?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, clearly Sir Hugh Wooding is aware of the need 710 for an urgent and speedy answer, but this is a difficult problem and I should not myself wish to put a date when we could expect conclusions from this Commission.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether Her Majesty's Government remain committed to the view that the future of Anguilla shall be according to the desires of its people?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, may I remind my noble friend of what my right honourable friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary said—and he has repeated it on a number of occasions: that it is no part of our policy that the Anguillans should live under an Administration which they do not want.
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, can my noble friend say what the Commission can do for Anguilla? It is a barren island, and all they can get is salt from the sea. Are we going to take new industries to that island? Because it is a hopeless island.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I should not like to say that it is a hopeless island. Clearly, there are some in Anguilla who feel passionately about the island. But certainly we must see how we can help the lot of the people who live there.
§ LORD SHEPHERDYes, my Lords, I would expect so. The Commission was set up by Her Majesty's Government and the Government of St. Kitts, but I am fairly certain that the Report will be published.