HC Deb 27 October 1955 vol 545 cc56-7W
Mr. G. Jeger

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to Gibraltar.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

During my visit I had useful discussions with the Governor and his official advisers and with elected and nominated members of the Legislative Council, as well as with other leading personalities in Gibraltar. After full and frank discussion of the situation which had arisen as a result of the recent exercise by the Governor of his reserved legislative powers, all parties agreed to an announcement that I fully endorsed the action taken by the Governor: but that as a result of the consultations, the Governor in Council had decided that, for the smooth working of the Constitution, it was desirable to associate the Standing Finance Committee of the Legislative Council more closely in the formulation of financial policy involving both expenditure and revenue, and that steps were being taken to give effect to this as soon as possible. I was able to have discussions also on other current affairs including plans for port development.