TNAG-0926-FCO40-1144-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 221

CONFIDENTIAL

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3. In certain territories, limited powers in some of these

areas have already been delegated to local governments. It is

not the intention to reverse those decisions, but no further delegations will be agreed in respect of these particular responsibilities. We will, however, be prepared to consider sympathetically any proposals that Governors may care to put forward for increasing the powers of local governments in other

areas.

4.

Where a territory's government have announced their intention to move to independence, a programme will be agreed for the various stages of constitutional change. There can be no

standard timetable for this: the pace will largely be dictated by local circumstances. In all cases, the Governor will retain until

the last moment formal responsibility for at least the first three of the matters listed in paragraph 2 above, though it will undoubtedly

be appropriate for him to consult the local Premier increasingly about the way he exercises these responsibilities as independence

approaches.

5.

Any constitutional changes introduced as a result of a decision to move towards independence will, of course, need to be reviewed if that decision is subsequently reversed (for example as a result of a change of government in the territory concerned). This could entail the resumption by Governors of powers that had already been delegated in anticipation of independence.

The Role of British Aid

6.

The reasonable needs of the Dependent Territories will continue to be a first call on our aid programme. In deciding how aid resources should be used in the Dependent Territories, our principal objective will be to create a political and economic climate that will make independence a realistic and

/attractive

CONFIDENTIAL