§ 2.51 p.m.
§ 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 what conclusions have been reached on the recommendatons of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the future of Anguilla.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTRY UNDER SECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFICE (THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN)My Lords, the Report of the Anguilla Commission, under the chairmanship of Sir Hugh Wooding, was published on Friday, November 6, as a White Paper (Cmnd. 4510). Copies are in the Library of your Lordships' House. Her Majesty's Government will be considering the 732 Report in the light of further discussions with the parties principally concerned, and the process of consultation has already begun.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that many of us sympathise with the Ministry in their difficult task of bringing about a settlement? Can he give us an assurance that a settlement will not be imposed by force, and that Her Majesty's Government will continue, by patient negotiation, to bring the two sides together finally to find a settlement?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANYes, my Lords, I can give the noble Lord that assurance quite unequivocally.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, before putting two supplementary questions to the noble Lord, may I have the indulgence of your Lordships' House, since I was involved for some two and a half years with the Anguilla episode? I appeared before this Commission and of course took part in the conferences in Barbados and in Jamaica, and I should like to give a personal expression of appreciation to Sir Hugh Wooding, and his colleagues, who produced a notable Report.
The noble Marquess says that conversations are now proceeding with those principally concerned. I am certain that the noble Marquess will appreciate that this is a Caribbean problem, and I should like to know whether he intends to have discussions with the Governments within the Caribbean. Secondly, I should like to know whether the noble Marquess can say anything about Her Majesty's Government's intention in regard to the troops and police who are now in Anguilla?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I should like to associate the Government and, I am sure, all Members of your Lordships' House with the remarks made by the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, concerning Sir Hugh Wooding and his Commission for their Report. We are most grateful to him for undertaking this work, which, as the noble Lord says, is a most remarkable effort.
In answer to the noble Lord's two supplementary questions, I think it would 733 be right to say that the initial discussions will be with the parties immediately concerned. I am quite certain, at the same time, that after this it may well be necessary to consult with other Caribbean Governments. The noble Lord may like to know that copies of the Report have been sent to all other Governments in the Caribbean who may be interested. Regarding the second supplementary question, concerning the troops in Anguilla, I cannot at this stage give the noble Lord an answer. I think the future there really depends on what progress is made in the present consultations.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, can the Minister say whether the withdrawal of troops—recognising that they have contributed immensely in a constructive way while they have been there—will be in negotiation, or discussion, with the Council in Anguilla itself?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I cannot say definitely, but I should think that if there is any question of withdrawal the interests of the Anguillans and the Council there will naturally be considered.
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, is the Minister aware that Anguilla is a very barren island? It is not economically viable, and some day Anguilla and the other islands will have to federate.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, that is why we are considering the future so carefully.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I do not wish to press the noble Marquess, recognising the importance of the fact that the discussions initially should be between the two parties. But I hope that the noble Marquess, and the Government, will be under no misunderstanding that this is a Caribbean problem, and will recognise that an "Anguilla-" could be found in many other parts of the Caribbean; and that in the long run, both for St. Kitts and Anguilla, and many other territories, there should be very close consultation not only with the independent Governments of the Caribbean, but also with the Governments of the other Associated States.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I entirely take the noble Lord's point, and will certainly bear that in mind.
§ LORD REAYMy Lords, if I understand it correctly, the association between the United Kingdom and the State of St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla could be terminated by Her Majesty's Government upon notice, or by that Associated State on request, in which case the State would become fully independent. May I ask whether Her Majesty's Government can tell us, if not now then at some other lime, whether they envisage either of these possibilities within the term of the present Parliament?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, what we want to do, and I am sure the House will agree, is to find a solution that is acceptable, if possible, to all parties concerned. This will take time, and if the noble Lord would put that question later on, I will try to answer it in the light of what happens in the future.