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Ocean Island

Volume 921: debated on Thursday 2 December 1976

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asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his reasons for refusing to agree to the separation of Ocean Island from the Gilbert Islands pending the granting of independence for the latter bearing in mind that the Rabi Council of Leaders representing the Ocean Islanders have requested this separation.

A separate administration for Ocean Island during the period of internal self-government in the Gilbert Islands, which is what the Rabi Council have asked for, is unnecessary. As my right hon. and noble Friend said in another place on 22nd November:

"An Order in Council introducing internal self-government in the Gilbert Islands on 1st January 1977 was made on 27th October. The Order contains provisions to safeguard fully the existing rights of the Banabans in relation to Ocean Island. It will in no way prejudice a decision on the Banaban petition for the separation of Ocean Island from the Gilbert Islands".—[Official Report, House of Lords, Vol. 377, c. 1753.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will postpone further implementation of the Gilbert Islands (Amendment) Order 1976 until agreement has been reached with the Rabi Council of Elders of Banaban People on the future of Ocean Island.

No. There is no reason to do so. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have given today to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Handsworth (Mr. Lee).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what stage it is proposed to consider the petition of the Rabi Council of Elders for the separation of Ocean Island from the Gilbert Islands; and why a decision on this cannot be made before the granting of internal self-government to the Gilbert Islands.

The policy of Her Her Majesty's Government is to seek an agreed solution to the question of the future constitutional status of Ocean Island. I envisage further consultation with the Government of the Gilbert Islands and the Rabi Council of Leaders beginning early in 1977, and it would in the meantime clearly be inappropriate to return a formal reply to the petition. The date of introduction of internal self-government has no significance in this context, as I have explained today in my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hands-worth (Mr. Lee).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the light of the representations made to him and his predecessors by the Banaban people, he will amend the Gilbert Islands (Amendment) Order 1976 to enable him to appoint a Resident Commissioner for Ocean Island who will be directly responsible to him pending a final settlement of the island's future.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given today to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Handsworth (Mr. Lee).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the intended withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Western Pacific, following the granting of independence to the Gilbert Islands, there has been any consultation with the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji with a view to the calling of a round table conference to discuss the future of Ocean Island and the claims of the Banaban people for its independence.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given today to a Question by the hon. Member for Essex, South-East (Sir B. Braine). We have naturally discussed the problem of Ocean Island from time to time with the Australian and New Zealand Governments, who are our partners in the Ocean Island phosphate industry, and with the Government of Fiji, since most of the Banabans are Fiji citizens. We envisage that these Governments will participate in our future consultations, though the basic constitutional question must be resolved by those directly concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied that the provisions and timing of the Gilbert Islands (Amendment) Order 1976 meets with the approval of the Government of Fiji.

The introduction of internal self-government in the Gilbert Islands is a matter for the British and Gilbert Islands Governments. Nevertheless, since many of the Banaban community are Fiji citizens we have thought it right to keep the Government of Fiji closely informed.