§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is satisfied that the inhabitants of Antigua and Barbuda desire the fully independent status being planned for them by his Department.
§ Mr. RidleyYes. All the political parties which contested the April 1980 General Election in Antigua included as part of their election platform a commitment to seek early independence. These parties polled 98 per cent. of the total votes cast in the election and 1.4 per cent. were cast for an independent member from Barbuda, who seeks a a special status for that island. Delegations from the Antigua Government and Opposition parties, and from Barbuda, are currently attending a constitutional conference at Lancaster House to consider the independence constitution for the State.