TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 61

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Miss Stoddart Ams 714

Mr Levoir (HK & GD)

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HKC 025 нка

RECEIVED

19 APR 1973

DESK OF.. ER

INDEX

PA

No

Rev

Reference

10. 51

REGISTRY

ction Taken

&

CONSERVATIVE PARTY POLICY ON THE DEPENDENT-TERRITORIES ST HELENA

inevitably

Your minute of 6 April refers. Although you asked for background only on integration I have included a few paragraphs about emigration as we have recently considered this as a posibble solution to St Helena's problems.

Integration

1. St Helena's 5,000 inhabitants import almost all their requirements and export nothing. There is no local manufacture to speak of and no tourist industry. The island is totally dependent on British Government aid which in 1977 totalled a little over £2 million.

2. We are continuing to investigate ways of strengthening the local economy but it is clear that whatever we do in this direction or by encouraging emigration (see paragraphs 4-6 below) there is little doubt that St Helena will remain dependent on British aid indefinitely. The present dependence is, if anything, likely to increase.

3.

In the draft country policy paper which will be submitted to Ministers once the St Helena Government has time to consider it we have said "We should explore a suitable form of association or integration with a UK local government authority (although we are unlikely to be able to put anything like this into effect at least before the future status of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands is clearer; and probably before we have settled the constitutional destiny of the other small island dependencies eg those in the Caribbean.

Emigration

4. In 1968 exceptional arrangements were made under the Immigration Act for Gibraltarians to be allowed unrestricted entry into the UK because of the siege conditions prevailing in Gibraltar.

5. In 1971 there was an exchange of minutes between the then Secretaries of State for Home Affairs and Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the subject of right of access into the UK of Gibraltarians. The FCO accepted the stipulation that no other dependent territory would be encouraged in a claim for similar treatment.

6. When we suggested recently that the Minister should write to his opposite number in the Home Office (a draft submission) proposing a similar relaxation for St Helenians, other departments in the FCO objected strongly.

It was pointed out that since St Helena has not by the action of Others been subjected to a 'siege situation', there was no basis for comparison. Moreover it was considered that if it came to the notice of the Falkland Islands Government that such an approach had been made, they would at once demand that we also apply on their behalf and would unsuitably point out that because of their problems with the Argentine Government, they are in fact closer to the Gibraltar situation than St Helena.

7 April 1978

GODE 18 - N

مینسانه

G J G Pirnie

West Indian and Atlantic Department