asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the preliminary talks with the Barbuda Council concerning the independence of Antigua and referred to in his answer of 31 October to the hon. Member for Inverness were those held on Friday 2 November at the instigation of members of the Barbuda Council; and when he expects those talks to resume.

Several meetings with representatives of Barbuda have been held. The most recent took place on Friday 2 November. It is too soon to suggest when they will resume.