Constitution

Oral Answers to Questions — Bahamas – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 26 March 1959.

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Photo of Mr James Johnson Mr James Johnson , Rugby 12:00, 26 March 1959

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding future constitutional advance for the Bahamas.

Photo of Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd , Mid Bedfordshire

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the constitutional changes proposed in the statement made in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) at the conclusion of my visit to the Bahamas last April. I made a further statement, published in the Bahamas last month, in amplification of certain points.

The Bill embodying these changes is now before the local Legislature. In the circumstances, I should prefer not to make any more detailed statement just at the moment.

Photo of Mr James Johnson Mr James Johnson , Rugby

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that all the informed opinion which comes out of the islands would say that the present constitution is intolerable and that for the sake of future harmony it needs to be very much liberalised to get the consent and support of the mass of the people in the Bahamas?

Photo of Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd , Mid Bedfordshire

Naturally, I follow very closely what is happening, and I am anxious and determined that the arrangements arrived at should reflect the spirit and the letter of what was agreed when I was in the Bahamas.

Mrs. White:

Will the right hon. Gentleman take note of the necessity for an independent commission to arrange the boundaries of any new constituencies so that they will not be subject to political pressure?

Photo of Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd , Mid Bedfordshire

That is very important indeed. I quite agree.