asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Jamaica, that the people of Belize should be granted early independence; and if he will make a statement on the timetable envisaged.

Her Majesty's Government regard independence as the natural constitutional goal for the people of Belize, but the Government of Belize have not formally requested independence and therefore no timetable is yet envisaged.