§ Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Lord Privy Seal how many constituencies there will be in the proposed elections in Rhodesia-Zimbabwe; and whether seats will be allocated to parties in accordance with the d'Hondt rule or some other form of list system.
§ Mr. LuceThe Lower House of the Parliament to be formed as a result of the forthcoming elections will contain 80 common roll seats and 20 white roll seats. The white roll members will be elected from 20 white roll constituencies. For the election of the common roll members, the country will be divided into eight electoral districts with numbers of seats varying according to the estimated number of voters. Parties will be able to nominate a list of candidates for any number of these districts. Seats will be allocated in proportion to the valid votes cast by each party in each district. The d'Hondt system of weighted proportional representation will not be used. However, any party receiving less than 10 per cent. of the vote in a district will receive no seats.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Lord Privy Seal how many auxiliary forces are attached to the Rhodesian forces and how many are currently undergoing training; what is the estimated number of Patriotic Front guerrillas already in the 315W country; what is the rate at which they are entering the country; what is the estimated number of South African troops and Air Force personnel in Rhodesia; and what is the estimated rate at which these are entering Rhodesia.
§ Mr. LuceWe do not yet have accurate information on the numbers of auxiliaries or of Patriotic Front guerrillas inside Rhodesia, although we believe the latter have increased by several hundred in recent weeks. We expect to be given this information during the detailed discussions on implementation of the ceasefire which will begin immediately now that our ceasefire proposals have been accepted by the Patriotic Front. These proposals make it clear that all forces will be under the control of the Governor and required to observe the ceasefire. We have no figures for the number of South African troops and Air Force personnel at present in Rhodesia, but have made it clear to all the Governments concerned that there is no question of any foreign involvement in Rhodesia once a British Governor has arrived in Salisbury.