From The Minister of State
Peter Blaker MP
Jan Tory,
pa.
#
HKGP 3小
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
29 December 1980
HKG0251
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 - 7 JAN 1981
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA Action Take
No EAM Ch 14/
Thank you for your letter of 8 December
forwarding one from your constituent, Mr D B Evans, of 4 Thomas Wakley Close, Mill Road, Colchester, Essex.
It has
The suggestion that certain of our colonial territories should be integrated with the United Kingdom (which would have the same practical effect as Mr Evans' proposal that they should be made into parliamentary constituencies) is not a new one. been discussed at one time or another in relation to several of the Dependent Territories, for example Malta in the 1950s, and more recently, Seychelles and Gibraltar. These proposals have, however, not been followed up because of their impracticality.
As your constituent will understand, integration implies permanent assimilation into the metropolitan power. In many cases the political circumstances of the territory may rule this out. Moreover, it would involve not only representation in the metropolitan legislature but also the equalisation of legislation, social services and taxation. This would raise serious problems for the territories mentioned as well as for the United Kingdom.
Your constituent refers to the integration of various former French colonies into metropolitan France. It is, however, important to note that the integration of these territories was the culmination of a long historical process: they have been in French hands since the 17th Century and had been represented in French Parliaments for 75 years when they received their present status in 1946.
I hope that your constituent will find this helpful. I am returning his letter.
Anthony Buck Esq QC MP
House of Commons
LONDON SWIA OAA
Your ever, Fillin
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