§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what request has been received from the Government of British Honduras for further constitutional advance; and whether, in considering such further constitutional advance, he will give an assurance that he will hold a constitutional conference at which the Opposition in that territory will be represented and also ensure that a general election takes place before independence is conceded.
§ Mr. WhitlockNo such request has been received. When such a request is made I envisage that it will be necessary to hold a constitutional conference to which, in accordance with normal practice, representatives of all political parties represented in the local legislature would be invited. I cannot of course forecast the outcome of any discussion about a general election at such a conference, but under present arrangements an election must be held by March, 1970.