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J
Secretary is directly responsible to Parliament for the
administration of the dependent territories and his
policies can be and are debated upon the floor of the
House. However, when the Foreign and Commonwealth
Secretary has informed Parliament of his plans for
bringing certain dependent territories to independence
over a period of time, it can be plausibly argued that
the House would be better informed on progress in the
carrying out of these policies, and better equipped
eventually to debate proposals for independence, if
Mr Ennals's proposed Select Committee were in existence
always provided that the Committee could attract as
members persons with not only an interest in, but
some knowledge of, colonial administration and thre
conditions in the dependencies generally. No doubt
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers would have
to devote additional time to giving evidence before
such a Select Committee, but that should ensure that
the Committee's Reports and recommendations would be
based upon the most authentic information and guidance
obtainable.
6. Against these advantages the appointment of a
Select Committee on the Dependent Territories would
appear to have the following disadvantages from the
point of view of the Government:
(a) The Committee would by its terms of reference
have the right to consider policy and its conduct
in respect of Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands,
Belize and Hong Kong all territories which are
the subject of disputes with other Governments.
HMG's relations with the Governments of Spain,
/Guatemala,
CONFIDENTIAL