§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Lord Privy Seal with which foreign powers he has discussed the future and sovereignty of any of the remaining British colonies, dependencies and associated States.
§ Mr. RidleyThe question of the future of certain remaining British dependencies and associated States has been discussed from time to time with interested foreign Governments.
In the case of Belize, negotiations with Guatemala to resolve the dispute reopened in May and there have been several meetings since then. In addition, there has been 129W widespread international interest in the future of Belize, particularly in the United Nations context, resulting in discussions with several countries.
I met an Argentine delegation for wide-ranging and exploratory talks on the Falkland Islands dispute in April. I reaffirmed that Her Majesty's Government have no doubts about British sovereignty over the Islands. The dispute was also one of the issues discussed at the meeting between my right hon. and noble Friend and the Argentine Foreign Minister at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
On Gibraltar, my right hon. Friend informed the House on 14 April—[Vol. 982, c. 800–7]—of the agreement which my right hon. and noble Friend concluded with the Spanish Foreign Minister in Lisbon on 10 April providing for the restoration of direct communications and the opening of negotiations to overcome all the differences over Gibraltar.
§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Lord Privy Seal what consultations he has had with the Administrations of the following territories during which the local political leaders were invited to consider the possibility of a change of sovereignty or encouraged to assume full independence: Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Falkland Islands and dependencies, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Pitcairn Island, St. Helena and Ascension, Antigua, Tristan da Cunha, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Anguilla, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
§ Mr. RidleyHer Majesty's Government's policy with regard to independence for the remaining territories for which they have responsibility is to respect the wishes of the local inhabitants as expressed through their elected leaders. Discussions have recently taken place with local Administrations in the following instances:
Belize
I have had several meetings on this subject during the past year with the Premier of Belize and with representatives of the Belizean Opposition. A constitutional conference will be called in the near future with the intention of bringing Belize to early independence.
Falkland Islands and Dependencies
I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 2 December.—[Vol. 995, c. 195.]
Turks and Caicos Islands
Talks were held in November 1979 with the then Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands and moves towards independence by 1982 were agree in principle. The Government reconsidered their position just prior to the elections of November 1980 in which they were defeated. The present Government have said that they prefer to move more slowly towards independence and have not proposed any date.
There has been contact from time to time with the Governments of some of the other dependent territories. Of these, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, St. Helena and Tristan da Cunha have expressed no wish for independence. As Ascension Island has no permanent inhabitants it will remain a dependency. Montserrat regards independence as an ultimate goal but has expressed no desire for any early moves in this direction. The Bermuda Government are keeping the question under review. No discussions have taken place in the case of Gibraltar, Hong Kong and Pitcairn Island.
130WAs regards the West Indies Associated States, the Antiguan Government obtained a mandate for early independence in the April 1980 elections and a constitutional conference opened in London on 4 December to discuss the details with all interested parties. The St. Kitts-Nevis Government have indicated that independence remains their long-term goal, though they have not set a date. The Anguilla Bill to separate Anguilla from the Associated State of St. Kitts-Nevis, whereby it would revert to full dependent status, has today received Royal Assent. The Anguilla Government have expressed no wish for an early move towards independence, though possibilities of constitutional advance are under consideration.