HC Deb 01 November 1944 vol 404 cc804-5W
Colonel Lyons

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, with a view to associating more closely the people with Governments in some of our Colonies, he will consider, by way of experiment, the appointment for a limited period of time of an experienced nonofficial member of a legislative council as a whole-time head of a Department.

Colonel Stanley

There is a fundamental distinction between the system by which the head of a Department is a civil servant and that under which he is a Minister. The Ministerial system is at present in force in one Colony only, Ceylon. No doubt it will be extended to others in the course of constitutional development; but in the meantime I do not consider that the experiment suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend would be practicable.