SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1. We have decided to
produce an interim report on some of the issues that have been
raised in our evidence, as a contribution to the wider debate
on the future of the Dependent Territories (paragraph 4).
2. We propose to return
to the matter of the Dependent Territories at a later date, when
the full outcome of the Review is available. We therefore welcome
further contributions, from representatives of the Dependent Territories
and others, both in response to this report and to any announcements
the Secretary of State may make (paragraph 4).
3. We take the view
that there should be a presumption in favour of the maximum degree
of internal self-government in Dependent Territories (paragraph
10).
4. We intend to take
further evidence on Gibraltar in due course (paragraph 13).
5. The extension of
British citizenship to all citizens of Dependent Territories would
undoubtedly raise very substantial questions, and we do not propose
to make recommendations at this interim stage. We understand
the Review is to address the issues involved, and we shall look
carefully at its conclusions on these matters (paragraph 27).
6. We recommend that
difficulties occasioned for Dependent Territories passport holders
by the need to obtain visas to visit other Member States of the
European Union, together with the question of visa regime for
Dependent Territory citizens visiting the United Kingdom, be included
in the Government's Review (paragraph 31).
7. We welcome the undertaking
given by Baroness Symons that the Review will address practical
difficulties relating to access to the United Kingdom. We urge
the Government also to address the other difficulties which we
have highlighted, particularly in relation to education and training
and opportunities to gain work experience. These matters are
vital to the continuing economic health of some Dependent Territories,
for which the United Kingdom has an ongoing responsibility (paragraph
32).
8. We support the proposed
change of description from British Dependent Territory to British
Overseas Territory (paragraph 34).
9. We expect the Review
to give full consideration to the revision of individual territorial
constitutions, and to set up a mechanism whereby a territory's
constitution can be regularly reviewed in line with that territory's
development (paragraph 39).
10. We expect careful and
sensitive consideration to be given to the mechanism for the appointment
of governors in all Dependent Territories. This should include
formal and proper consultation with the appropriate local representatives
prior to a governor's appointment (paragraph 42).
11. The relationship between
the Governor and the elected representatives in a Dependent Territory
is a crucial element in the administration of that territory,
and we consider that steps to seek to improve relationships should
be a central element in the Review (paragraph 43).
12. We urge that the new
Administration demonstrate its commitment to the inhabitants of
the Dependent Territories and to the rule of law and good government
in those territories (paragraph 45).
13. The Dependent Territories
Association has called for a thorough examination of existing
methods of communication between Chief Ministers and Governors
and between British officials and elected representatives in Dependent
Territories. We support this call (paragraph 50).
14. We suggest that in the
context of the Review, the Government should examine and, if necessary,
amend the constitutions of Dependent Territories to ensure that
they provide an appropriate basis for a response to emergencies,
particularly natural disasters (paragraph 51).
15. We agree that the role
of the Caribbean Regional Dependent Territories Secretariat should
be thoroughly examined in the course of the Dependent Territories
Review. We are glad to note that both the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office and the Department for International Development recognise
the deficiencies in the present machinery. We recommend that
consideration be given to abolition of the Secretariat (paragraph
54).
16. We recommend the establishment
within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of a Dependent Territories
Co-ordination Department to act as a focus for matters of general
interest relating to Dependent Territories (paragraph 58).
17. We believe there is a
need for strengthening of the inter-departmental co-ordinating
arrangements. We recommend that changes to achieve this objective
must emerge from the Review (paragraph 59).
18. The proposal of the International
Development Committee to bring funding of the developmental needs
of the Dependent Territories under the department having responsibility
for the Dependent Territories raises a number of complex questions
and we are therefore glad to note Baroness Symons' assurance that
it will be considered in the course of the Review (paragraph 60).
19. We consider that the
matter of the democratic deficit in relation to Parliamentary
oversight of the Dependent Territories is a serious one and we
recommend that it should be a major issue for the Review (paragraph
62).
20. In cases where Dependent
Territories are unable to provide a permanent representative in
the United Kingdom by reason of cost, we recommend that consideration
be given to providing financial assistance to enable such representation
to be set up, if the territory so wishes (paragraph 63).
21. We recommend that the
Government give careful consideration in the context of the Review
to ways in which wildlife conservation can be enhanced in all
the Dependent Territories, inhabited and uninhabited (paragraph
64).
22. The evidence we have
received shows up a number of difficulties in relations between
the United Kingdom and its Dependent Territories which clearly
need to be addressed in the Review. We hope that our thinking
on these will be helpful to all parties concerned. As long as
the British Government remains responsible for good governance
and external relations - and the British taxpayer in consequence
stands as the ultimate guarantor of the finances of the territory
- there will remain demarcation problems at the margins and also
straight differences of opinion as to the merits of particular
courses of action. Inevitably, these will appear to local politicians
as unreasonable interference in the internal affairs of the territory.
This does not mean that the Government should not make every
effort to minimise the scope for friction and we hope that through
the Review it will do so. It is in how it meets the problems
that we shall judge the Review when we examine it in detail in
our final report (paragraph 65).
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