§ 2.40 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 were reached at the conference on Seychelles independence.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, copies of the Final Communique of this Conference are being placed in the Library of the House, and the Report of the Conference will be presented as a White Paper. The participants agreed on the principles of an Interim Constitution, on several points for an Independence Constitution and on the appointment of an Electoral Review Commission. Additionally, the two Seychelles political Parties agreed to form a Coalition Government.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend Lord Goronwy-Roberts for that reply, may I ask whether it was not expected that this Conference might lead to a date for independence? Can my noble friend indicate the reasons why that hope was not fulfilled? Now that the two Parties of the Seychelles have settled their disagreements and formed a National Government, will Her Majesty's Government be calling a further conference in order to allow independence to be achieved?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, the Conference held between 14th and 27th March in Marlborough House made very good progress. There was a diversity of view among the representatives of the Seychelles on a number of important points. However, they agreed on a number of equally important points. We expect that the resumed Conference in January 1976 will lead to independence, we think, before 30th June 1976.
The Earl of SELKIRKMy Lords, can the Government say whether any consideration was given to the problems of defence in the course of this Conference?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, all aspects of the future of an independent Seychelles were discussed. I imagine that more detailed discussions will follow on questions similar to the question raised by the noble Earl, Lord Selkirk.
§ Lord REIGATEMy Lords, is it the intention of Her Majesty's Government that independence shall be granted to the Seychelles only following a plebiscite, as was advocated by Her Majesty's Government when in Opposition, in the case of Grenada?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, we have not laid down any condition that there should be a particular form of consultation by the Seychelles authorities with their own people. They are about to operate an Interim Constitution in which the United Party and the Democratic Party are taking part. No doubt they will come to their own decision on how finally to consult their people about this important subject.
§ Lord SLATERMy Lords, would not my noble friend agree that, as the two principal Parties within the Seychelles have found it possible to come together to form a Government at this juncture, it would be advisable to leave this matter until a further conference is held, bearing in mind that there is every possibility— judging by the reply of my noble friend the Minister—that finality in regard to independence may be achieved?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I fully agree with my noble friend Lord Slater who has expressed the position with precision. There are a number of points of difference between the two 293 Parties—not least about the electoral system in the Seychelles—but they came together during the March Conference, some may feel as a result of the Conference. My noble friend Lord Slater is entirely right about the timetable we have agreed with them; namely, that they should operate the Interim Constitution during the rest of this year and then come to a reconvened conference in January 1976, with a view to securing independence in June 1976. I warmly welcome the intervention of my noble friend.
The Earl of MARMy Lords, do the Government of the Seychelles realise that there is a large number of Seychelleois in Kenya and Tanzania? If rehabilitation goes on, the Seychelles will once again be thoroughly overpopulated, and there will not be enough jobs available.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, that is a matter of assessment and judgment. As always, we shall not confer independence—subject to the approval of Parliament—on this territory, but shall seek to consult, advise, guide and aid it with regard to outstanding economic and other questions.