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Pitcairn
House of Lords
Monday, 19th July, 1982.
[19 JULY 1982]
The House met at half-past two of the clock: The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
Prayers-Read by the Lord Bishop of Lincoln.
Pitcairn Island
Lord McNair: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Governor of Pitcairn Island has reported on his recent visit to the island and, if so, what he said and what action is being taken.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Belstead); My Lords, the Governor has reported on his recent visit to Pitcairn Island. During the visit, on the 11th to the 18th of June, the Governor discussed with the Island Council numerous matters of current interest and matters concerning the island's future development. These will form the subject of considered recommendations by the Council to the Governor,
Lord MeNair: My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that answer so far as it goes, may I hope to get a little more information out of him meanwhile? In particular, may I ask him about the money? Does he remember that his noble friend Lord Trefgarne told us on 9th March that their investment portfolio now has a current market value of three-quarters of a million pounds? Is the noble Lord aware that recently a consignment of supplies and equipment destined for Pitcairn Island was lost in a shipboard fire-an apparently uninsurable loss-and that when the Island Council was considering whether to apply to the Commissioner for money to replace this order they decided not to, on the grounds that they did not want to seem to "scrounge"? Can the noble Lord assure the House that the three-quarters of a million pounds really belongs to the Pitcairn islanders and they know it, and would it not be sensible to put a fraction of this-perhaps 1 per cent.-into a float or a petty cash fund which the Island Council could use at its sole discretion, without any fear of being thought to
* scrounge "?
Lord Belstead: My Lords, the sum of money which the noble Lord, Lord McNair, has mentioned- indeed, over three-quarters of a million pounds-is in fact from income from the sale of postage stamps and has become this very substantial investment which, I confirm is the property of the Island Council. The actual portfolio is handled by the Crown Agents. As to the specific point which the noble Lord puts to me about keeping a small float of the money ready for contingencies, I wonder whether I might look at this and perhaps take advice, and also consult the governor and take his advice.
111.34 A2
Island
618
Lord Kennet: My Lords, does the Minister remember that the noble Lord, Lord Trefgarne, on 9th March also told us that new telecommunications equipment was to arrive on the island early the following month: that is, April? Should we be right in assuming that it has not yet arrived, and can the noble Lord say when it will arrive and what it will do when it gets there?
Lord Belstead: My Lords, the appropriate type of radio equipment has been chosen. It is hoped to complete the tendering process by August and to place a firm order in September. When the equipment is in place it will represent a voice-to-voice instead of a Morse link between the Island Council and the administrator in Auckland, New Zealand..
Lord Kennet: My Lords, is there, not a startling discrepancy between a tender accepted in August and an order placed in September?
Lord Belstead: My Lords, that is a perfectly fair point. We should have liked to conclude this very much more swiftly, but the type of equipment which was found to be needed cannot be bought off-the-shelf.
Baroness Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe: My Lords, could the noble Lord confirm that the recent British Nationality Act has deprived the islanders of their British nationality? How will that affect their future development? Could he also say whether there is any news about a possible extension to the landing strip?
Lord Belstead: My Lords, so far as British citizenship is concerned, the Pitcairn islanders will acquire British Dependent Territory citizenship on the commencement of the British Nationality Act. Under the Act, this will give them rights of residence in the United Kingdom; but I am bound to say to the noble Baroness that the inhabitants of Pitcairn Island do not show the slightest desire to become residents of the United Kingdom. They appear to be contented with their life on the island.
So far as the airstrip is concerned, the island has been visited-indeed I am not sure that he is not still there-by a New Zealand Army officer, Major Jason- Smith; who has been there to organise repairs to the jetty. If he has time, I am advised that he intends to look at the airstrip proposal and the possibilities of a seaplane service.
Baroness Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe: My Lords, while being most grateful for the last piece of informa tion, may I ask whether the noble Lord is not aware that there is great disquiet and disappointment; and there have been many talks on the radio in England about the Pitcairn islanders losing their British nationality?
Lord Belstead: My Lords, I repeat that when the British Nationality Act comes into force, the Pitcairn islanders will acquire British Dependent Territory citizenship. It gives British Dependent Territory citizens rights of residence in the United Kingdom. But I repeat yet again-because the message, with