Letter to the Chairman of the Committee
from Meg Munn MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
As the Committee is aware, we have been negotiating
a new constitution with the Falkland Islands over the last few
months. This follows on from our commitment in the 1999 White
Paper on the Overseas Territories to review constitutional frameworks
across the Territories. A select committee on the constitution
was subsequently set up in the Falkland Islands and it published
its final report in May 2007.
I am pleased to be able to tell you that negotiations
have taken place in a constructive and open way and that rapid
progress has been made. As a result, I have just been able to
agree a final draft Constitution Order with the Falkland Islands
councillors which I believe is a good outcome for all involved.
It enhances local democracy whilst retaining sufficient powers
for the UK Government to protect UK interests and ensure the overall
good governance of the territory.
Falkland Island Councillors will now begin a
period of public consultation on the Islands, which will culminate
in a debate in their Legislative Council. Assuming a resolution
in favour, I will then be in a position to recommend the new Constitution
Order to Her Majesty in the Privy Council in October.
In line with the commitment made by Jack Straw
to Donald Anderson in 2002, I am therefore forwarding a copy of
the draft Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008 to you. Given
the upcoming recess, I thought it was better to forward it to
you at this point rather than to wait for final confirmation from
the Falkland Islands Legislative Council that they have passed
a resolution approving the order.
17 June 2008
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