§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which overseas territories are in the process of revising their constitutions and, in each case, what the anticipated timescale is for(a) the overseas territory to finalise their requests for revision and (b) referral to the Privy Council for an Order. [118886]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe following Overseas Territories are in the process of reviewing their constitutions: Anguilla; the British Virgin Islands; the Cayman Islands; the Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; St Helena; and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
There is no anticipated timescale for submitting draft Orders in Council containing revised constitutions to the Privy Council; this will depend on the conclusion of discussions with the territories concerned about their proposals for constitutional revision.
46WThe following is a summary of the stage reached in the constitutional review process in each territory concerned:
Anguilla: A local review commission is reviewing the Constitution; we expect it to report later this year and that proposals for revision will be made by 31 March 2004.British Virgin Islands: A local review commission is expected to be established within the next few months.Cayman Islands; St Helena: Proposals for revised constitutions have been discussed with the FCO and are under consideration.Falkland Islands: A committee of the local Legislative Council is reviewing the Constitution but has yet to report.Gibraltar: The Select Committee on Constitutional Reform of the Gibraltar House of Assembly has reviewed the Constitution; the Chief Minister has indicated that he expects to table proposals for discussion during the course of the year.Turks and Caicos Islands; Montserrat: Local review commissions have recommended changes and these are under consideration in the territories; we expect firm proposals from the local Legislative Councils later this year.
§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many children residing in the Turks and Caicos Islands are not receiving full-time education; and what action the Government propose to take. [118888]
§ Mr. MacShaneEducation is the responsibility of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) government. All children legally entitled to be in the TCI are attending educational establishments. These amount to some 4,492 students, (including those at the Community College). The cases of students who were unable to register because their immigration status was unclear are being examined; in the meantime some are actually attending school. The Department of Education does not hold statistics for these cases.