:
Kr. Blain
PF_1/5/0
32
c.c.: Mr. Bennett, Gibraltar and South Atlantic Department
Mr. Carter, Hong Kong Dept.
Mr. Fairclough, Pacific and India
Ocean Dent.
Mr. Sewell, W. Indian 'A' and
Swaziland Dept.
Mr. Jerron, W. Indian 'B' Dept. Mr. Stow, Protocol and Conference
Dept.
Pears from the Dependent Territories in a
Reformed House of Lorda
Lord Shackleton, as Leader of the House of Lords, wrote to the Commonwealth Secretary a couple of months ago about a suggestion (made to the Prime Minister by Lord Taylor) that pears from the Commonwealth should be included among the proposed 'speaking peers' in a reformed House of Lords ('speaking peers would have the right to speak but not to vote).
2.
In reply, Lord Shepherd sent Lord Shackleton a memorandum prepared in this Department setting out the pros and cons of peers from other independent Commonwealth countries and concluding that it was not a good idea. Lord Shepherd asked, however, that the question of peers from the British dependent territories should be examined and he promised to send Lord Shackleton in due course a separate memorandum on this subject.
3.
The
I have prepared the attached draft memorandum and I should be grateful for your comments on it. Mr. Walker has asked me to say that he would be similarly grateful if the Heads of Department to whom this minute is copied could arrange for the co ments of their Departments to be sent to me. draft, revised in the light of any comments, will then be put up through Sir J. Johnston, with the suzgestion that he should consult Sir A. Galsworthy before submitting it to Lord Shepherd.
(5.9.7. MARTIN)
Commonwealth Folicy and Planning Department
10 June, 1968
HoCarter.
Draft li with.
AMO
.6/6163.
По Сіддавай,
H@
Pls see
my marymal comments. should be grateful for
a draft minute designed to strengthen The objections from
H.K. point of view.
S
a
CONFIDENTIAL
би 11/6/68
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