§ Sir H. O'Neillasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether arrangements will be made to enable citizens evacuated from Gibraltar to stand as candidates and to vote in the forthcoming election under the revised Constitution.
§ Colonel StanleyNo, Sir. The possibility of devising machinery to embrace the widely scattered Gibraltarians has been carefully considered by the Gibraltar Government, but the conclusion was reached that the difficulties involved, if not insuperable, would certainly result in a substantial and undesirable delay in1476W holding the first election. It is proposed, however, that the first period of office of the new City Council should be shorter than the normal period of three years.
§ Mr. Hoggasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made with the repatriation of the Gibraltarians who were evacuated to the United Kingdom and elsewhere.
§ Colonel StanleyOf about 15,000 Gibraltarian civilians evacuated in 1940 to the United Kingdom, Madeira and Jamaica, about 8,400 have been repatriated during the past twelve months. The repatriation of the remainder raises problems of great difficulty owing to grave shortage of accommodation in the Colony, and I have decided, after consultation with the Governor, to appoint a Commissioner to examine the whole question urgently. I am glad to say that Sir Findlater Stewart has accepted my invitation to undertake this investigation.