§ Mr. Harold Wilsonasked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed that a gift should be presented on behalf of the House of Commons to the Parliament of Western Samoa to mark their tenth anniversary of independence.
§ The Prime MinisterNo gift was made by the House of Commons to the Parliament of Western Samoa when Western Samoa became independent on 1st January 1962, because Western Samoa did not apply at that time to join the Commonwealth. Following Western Samoa's accession to the Commonwealth in August 1970, it seems appropriate to mark the occasion of independence by the presentation of a Mace to the Parliament of Western Samoa. I am sure that the whole House will wish to offer to Western Samoa its best wishes for the future.