§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Basutoland can now be given the same status, and its Resident Commissioner the same title and responsibilities, as have been given to Bechuanaland and Swaziland, having regard to the fact that Basutoland already has adult suffrage and that its constitutional progress is at least on a par with that of the other two territories.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COLONIAL AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE)The changes in the titles and responsibilities of the Resident Commissioners in the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland were in keeping with recommendations from the Swaziland Constitutional Committee and with suggestions made by representative bodies in the Bechuanaland Protectorate.
1487WANo such proposals have been received from Basutoland, where a Commission is at present reviewing the Constitution. My right honourable friend thought it right in these circumstances to defer any 1488WA consideration of the status of the Resident Commissioner there until the recommendations of the Commission are available.
House adjourned at two minutes past nine o'clock.