Mr. Creech Jones:

The few outstanding points to which I referred in the statement which I circulated with the OFFICIAL REPORT on nth of December were quickly settled, and the proposals for the revision of the Constitution of the Malayan Union were published in Malaya on 24th December. The Governor then appointed a Committee, consisting mainly of influential representatives of the non-Malay communities, which has invited, on the widest possible basis, the views of communities, interests and individuals throughout the Peninsula. The report of this Committee will be submitted to the Governor, for consideration in the Advisory Council. His Majesty's Government will then again consider the matter, and at that stage, as I promised on nth of December, the House will be given the opportunity of commenting on the proposals as a whole. Meanwhile, copies of the proposals as published in Malaya have been placed in the Library of the House and I am circulating with the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement setting out their main features.

As regards the Singapore Municipality, proposals have been formulated by a Committee appointed by the Governor after all interested bodies and individuals had had full opportunity to express their views. The Committee's proposals have been published in Singapore, but I have not yet received the Governor's recommendations upon them.