HC Deb 02 November 1965 vol 718 cc144-7W
Sir Knox Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will list those territories or countries for which Her Majesty's Government exercises responsibility through the Colonial Office which have not as yet incorporated in their legal systems the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction which has been conferred upon the High Court of the United Kingdom by the Administration of Justice Act, 1956; in each case, what progress is being made towards the incorporation of such jurisdiction; and, where this has not been done, what are the reasons.

Mr. Greenwood

The following territories for which Her Majesty's Government exercises responsibility through the

Territory
Barbados … … … … It is the intention of the Barbados Government to enact local legislation but, for constitutional and administrative reasons, this has not yet been done.
Basutoland … … … … Non-maritime.
Bechuanaland … … … …
Falkland Islands … … … It is now considered that the Falkland Islands Application of Enactments (Amendment) Ordinance 1962, by which instrument it was intended that the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction should be incorporated into the legal system of the territory, may be ineffective for the purpose. It is therefore proposed to proceed by United Kingdom Order in Council.
British Antarctic Territory … … No practical purpose would be served by incorporating the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction into the legal system of the territory.
Swaziland … … … … Non-maritime.
Tonga … … … … … The Government of Tonga, without whose agreement no United Kingdom statute can be applied to the Kingdom, have not yet reached a decision in this matter.

Sir Knox Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will list those countries or territories for which Her Majesty's Government exercises responsibility, together with those former colonial countries or territories for which Her Majesty's Government previously exercised such responsibility, which have incorporated in their legal systems the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction which has been conferred upon the High Court of the United Kingdom by

Territory Constitutional Instrument
Aden … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Aden) Order in Council 1963 (S.I. 1963/1634).
Antigua … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Antigua) Order 1964 (S.I. 1964/1659).
Bahamas … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Bahama Islands) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/2348).
Bermuda … … … … The Supreme Court (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Act 1962, Ordinance No. 31 of 1962.
British Guiana … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (British Guiana) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/630).
British Honduras … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (British Honduras) Order 1965 (S.I. 1965/593).
Cayman Islands … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Cayman Islands) Order 1964 (S.I. 1964/922).
Dominica … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Dominica) Order 1964 (S.I. 1964/ 1660).
Fiji … … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Fiji) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/398).
Gibraltar … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Gibraltar) Order in Council 1961 (S.I. 1961/2031).
Grenada … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Grenada) Order 1964 (S.I. 1964/1661).
Hong Kong … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Hong Kong) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/1547).
Mauritius … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Mauritius) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/167).
Montserrat … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Montserrat) Order 1964 (S.I. 1964/1662).
Pitcairn … … … … Judicature Ordinance No. 1 of 1961.
St. Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla The Admiralty Jurisdiction (St. Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla) Order 1964 (S.I. 1964/1663).

Colonial Office have not incorporated in their legal systems the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction for the reasons stated:

the Administration of Justice Act, 1956; and, in each case, by what constitutional instrument such jurisdiction was conferred.

Mr. Greenwood

The following territories for which Her Majesty's Government exercises responsibility through the Colonial Office have incorporated in their legal systems the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction by the constitutional instruments noted:

Territory Constitutional Instrument
St. Helena … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (St. Helena) Order 1964 (S.I. 1964/1664).
St. Lucia … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Saint Lucia) Order 1965 (S.I. 1965/129).
St. Vincent … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Saint Vincent) Order 1964 (S.I. 1964/1665).
Seychelles … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Seychelles) Order in Council 1961 (S.I. 1961/2032).
Turks and Caicos Islands … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Turks and Caicos Islands) Order 1965 (S.I. 1965/1529).
Virgin Islands … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Virgin Islands) Order in Council 1961 (S.I. 1961/2033).
Western Pacific
British Solomon Islands Protectorate The Admiralty Jurisdiction (British Solomon Islands Protectorate) Order 1965 (S.I. 1965/594).
Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony) Order 1965 (S.I. 1965/595).
Hew Hebrides … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (New Hebrides) Order 1965 (S.I. 1965/596).

2. The following countries for which Her Majesty's Government previously exercised responsibility had, at the time

Territory Constitutional Instrument
Jamaica … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Jamaica) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/631).
Sabah … … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (North Borneo) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/399).
Sarawak … … … … Application of Laws Ordinance Cap. 2.
Singapore … … … … Courts (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Ordinance 1961, No. 32 of 1961.
Zanzibar … … … … The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Zanzibar) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/2180).