asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on constitutional development relating to St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla since the Minister of State's reply on 20 November.

Talks under my chairmanship were held in London on 13 and 14 December with a delegation from the St. Kitts-Nevis Government and with representatives from Nevis. It was agreed that the St. Kitts-Nevis Government would take steps in the States Legislature to facilitate the formal separation by Her Majesty's Government of Anguilla from the Associated State. It was decided that St. Kitts-Nevis should move to independence as a unitary State as early as possible in 1980 but that a referendum should be held 18 months after independence to decide whether Nevis should remain part of the State. The St. Kitts-Nevis Government agreed, in the meantime, to pursue further measures of devolution.