§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he has now received the proposal of the Malayan Bar Council for the formation of a Commonwealth Court of Appeal; what other such proposals for a tribunal to assume or supplement the Commonwealth functions of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council have now been considered by Her Majesty's Government; and whether Her Majesty's Government will request that this subject be placed on the agenda of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.
§ Mr. WhitlockI have received no such proposal from the Malaya Bar Council.
A variety of proposals to this end have been made in recent years. The British Government have found these proposals attractive and have discussed them with other Commonwealth Governments, but there has so far been no consensus of opinion in favour of a Commonwealth Court of Appeal.
It is not the view of the British Government that the question can best be pursued by seeking its inclusion on the agenda for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Meeting.