§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I beg to move that the House do now resolve itself into Committee on this Bill.
§ Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(The Marquess of Lothian.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ House in Committee accordingly.
§ [The EARL OF LISTOWEL in the Chair.]
§ Clause 1 [Future administration of Anguilla]:
§
LORD BROCKWAY moved as an Amendment to the clause:
Page 1, line 8, at end insert (" provided that such provision is made in agreement with representatives of the people of Anguilla ")
§ The noble Lord said: I do not propose to delay the Committee on this Bill, or the proceedings of the House. In its terms, this Bill is the most Colonialist Bill that I have seen in over thirty years. It gives absolute power to the Government and absolute power to the Commission. I know that that is not its intention and its purpose, and I am aware that the Anguilla Council has endorsed the proposals which are made. What I am asking in this Amendment is that this agreement with the Anguilla Council shall actually be included in the terms of the Bill. The Minister has given us an assurance to this effect, and I hope that he may be able to accept this Amendment. If he is not able to accept it, may I ask him in reply to emphasise the assurance which he previously gave, and to consider whether it might not be possible to have an exchange of communications with the Anguilla Council so that the matter might be doubly sure. I beg to move.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANI am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, for the brevity with which he introduced his Amendment, and I think all your Lordships understand the motives behind it. As I think he suspects, 194 I am not able to accept the Amendment, but I should like briefly to tell him the reasons why. The Anguillan Council have endorsed not only the Bill before your Lordships to-day but also the principles of the Order in Council which we propose to make under it if it is approved by your Lordships' House.
We have proceeded in all this, as I think the noble Lord knows, with the full agreement of the Anguillans, and we have fully honoured the assurance given by the previous Government, and reaffirmed by us, that we would not place the Anguillans under an Administration they did not want. We entirely agree that it is essential to proceed with the consent of the Anguillans. One of the principles set out in the proposed Order in Council is that the Commissioner should proceed in co-operation and consultation with the members of the Anguillan Council. My right honourable friend the Minister of State has been in close and continuous touch with the Anguillans regarding the type of administration which would be established after the Bill becomes law.
I would assure your Lordships, and particularly the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, that the Anguillans both endorse and welcome the terms of the Bill which is before your Lordships to-day. I hope, therefore, that the noble Lord will feel that this reassurance satisfies him, and that he will feel able to withdraw his Amendment.
§ LORD BROCKWAYI will not pretend that I am satisfied, but I am pleased, and, because I do not want to delay the Bill, I thank the Minister for that assurance and beg leave to withdraw the Amendment.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Clause 1 agreed to.
§ Remaining Clause agreed to.
§ House resumed: Bill reported without amendment; Report received.
§ Then, Standing Order No. 42 having been suspended (pursuant to the Resolution of July 22), Bill read 3a, and passed.