SAND
FALKLAND ISLANDS AND DEPENDENCIES
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Fresent Constitution and Prospects for Independence
The Governor is advised by an Executive Council and there is a Legislative Council which, in ACSENGERCr with constitutional changes likely to be sprLOVLÊ, will in future have an elected unofficial majority. The Governor can act contrary to the advice of his Executive Council and he has the right to legislate by, declaration, but either course could provoke a constitutional crisis. There is no demand for independence. There are no political parties and
· all classes are united by a desire to remain British. But HMG's long term interest lies in a settlement of the sovereignty dispute with Argentina.
BRITISH ANTARCTIC TERRITORY
The British Antarctic Territory, formerly part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies, is administered by a High Commissioner who is also Governor of the Falkland Islands. There are no indigenous inhabitants and the population is confined entirely to scientists from the British Antarctic Survey and from other countries.
Responsibility for the British Antarctic Survey lies with the Department of Education and Science which has, in fact, assigned immediate responsibility to the Natural Environment Research Council (NE$C).
There are no exports. Goods, mainly foodstuffs, are imported to maintain the scientific bases of the British Antarctic Survey which is funded by the Department of Education and Science.
The territory covers approximately 666,000 square miles.
Considerations affecti
Folicy
The Islands are not grant-sided. ster
At present they are economically viable but are vunerable to world price movements in wool- their only product.
Gremains committed to support d sustain Gibraltar Economic tivity is heavily dependent on
The inputs, particularly MOD.
à Programme agreed in 1974 is hind schedule, being handicapped inefficient labour, shortage of teris and citing difficulties. ditional aid (including possibly dgetary aid) may become necessar
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