HC Deb 17 April 1957 vol 568 cc201-2W
63. Mr. Owen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the proposed Constitution for Singapore.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am glad to say that agreement was reached on a new Constitution which will confer full internal self-government on Singapore while leaving defence and external affairs in the hands of Her Majesty's Government. Details of the constitutional settlement are contained in the Report of the Conference, which is being published today as a Command Paper.

68. Mr. Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the issues which remain in dispute following the negotiations on the proposed Constitution for Singapore.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Agreement was reached on all the permament provisions of the new Constitution, but the Singapore Delegation regretted that Her Majesty's Government were unable to agree that the affairs of Singapore should be transferred to the Commonwealth Relations Office. They were also unable to support the temporary condition on which I insisted that the effect that persons known to have been engaged in subversive activities should not be eligible for election to the first Legislative Assembly of the new State of Singapore.