Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is able to make a statement about the recent constitutional changes in St. Helena?
Mr. M. MacDonaldYes, Sir. The new Constitution was introduced on 15th February. It has been framed with the object of giving all sections of the community in St. Helena a fuller opportunity than in the past of expressing their views regarding the administration of the Island. With this end in view a new body has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Governor, called the Advisory Council, which is composed entirely of nominated unofficial members and will be fully representative of Island opinion. The former Executive Council, composed of officials together with three unofficial usually drawn from a somewhat limited section of the population, has been replaced by an Executive Council composed only of the former element. It is contemplated that the two Councils should, on occasion, hold joint meetings to consider matters of general policy. It will be realised that the small size of the population makes elaborate machinery inappropriate; but I hope that the new arrangements will afford a useful and practical method of associating islanders more closely with the management of the Island's affairs. I am arranging for copies of the despatch which I addressed to the Governor on this subject and of the constitutional instruments to be placed in the Library of the House.