§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secrettary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the constitutional future of Pitcairn Island.
§ Miss Joan LestorThe islanders run their internal affairs through the Island Council, constituted by a Local Government Ordinance of 1964. The council comprises the following 10 members:
- (1) An island magistrate, elected triennially who is chairman;
- (2) Three elected councillors, elected each December, one of whom is the Chairman of the Internal Committee;
- (3) The Island Secretary, a public officer, serving ex officio;
- (4) One member appointed by the Governor;
- (5) Two members chosen by the elected members;
- (6) Two non-voting advisory members, one chosen by the Governor and one chosen by the rest of the council.
The following declaration was unanimously made by the Island Council on 16th June 1968:
Having noted the discussions which had taken place from time to time in the United 20W Nations Committee on Colonialism about the future status of the remaining smaller Colonial territories; and having also noted that the British Colony of the Pitcairn Islands is one of the territories considered by the Committee, the Pitcairn Island Council declares that it has no present wish to seek to change the nature of the relationship between the Government and people of Pitcairn and the Government of the United Kingdom but if, at any time, change should be desirable, the Council has full confidence that this can and will be negotiated satisfactorily by free agreements between those whose sole concern it is. The Council further declares that independent statehood would be administratively and economically impracticable for the small isolated island community of Pitcairn.The declaration has not been rescinded, nor has the Island Council expressed any wish for a change in status. In the opinion of Her Majesty's Government it still accurately reflects the views of the people of Pitcairn, who at present number 63.