Oral Answers to Questions — Colonial Empire – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 14 December 1949.
Mr. H. D. Hughes:
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the British delegation to the General Assembly voted against the principle of equal education for children of all races in non-self-governing territories.
Mr. Creech Jones:
The vote was not cast against the principle of equal education as such. It was cast because a vote in favour would have implied an admission that the United Nations has a locus standi for interfering in our Colonial administration in a way which the United Nations Charter does not in fact support.
Mr. Hughes:
Would my right hon. Friend make it clear that a British representative at the United Nations stated that it was the policy of the United Kingdom to provide equal education in all non-self-governing territories and, in view of the fact that only votes and resolutions, and not the speeches and meetings that lie behind them get attention in the Press, will he publish a full statement of all our votes on questions at recent meetings of the General Assembly?
Mr William Gallacher
, Fife Western
It is not what is said, but what is done.
Mr. Creech Jones:
I have promised a full statement to be published in the form of a white paper. On every occasion when a vote of this kind is taken the position of His Majesty's Government is stated and it was so on this occasion.
Mr Philip Piratin
, Stepney Mile End
If it is the policy of the Government to secure equal education for children of all races, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that that is so in all Colonial countries?
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
