Mr. Creech Jones:

On 7th February, I accorded an interview to a delegation from Cyprus headed by the Bishop of Paphos, who presented a memorial on the subject of the union of Cyprus with Greece. I reminded the delegation of my statement in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin) on 11th December, to the effect that no change in the status of the island is contemplated by His Majesty's Government. I alluded further to the social and economic development programme of the island, involving substantial assistance from United Kingdom funds, and to the plans for the introduction of a more liberal constitution, which were outlined in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Collins) on 23rd October last; and I expressed the hope of His Majesty's Government that the people of Cyprus would play their part in these beneficial developments. A written reply to the delegation's representations was subsequently addressed to them in similar terms To this I have nothing to add.