§ Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what considerations relating to grant of land to the British Government for defence bases have delayed the final drafting of a mutual assistance and defence treaty between the United Kingdom Government and the Government of Malaya; and what conclusions have been reached with regard to the land in question.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydBefore formally committing itself to provisions about land in the Defence Agreement, the Government of the Federation has had to negotiate appropriate arrangements with the Governments of the States and Settlements, in whom responsibility for land matters is vested under the present Constitution. The need for this was recognised in the treaty negotiations and Her Majesty's Government expect shortly to he informed of the outcome.