Oral Answers to Questions — Southern Rhodesia – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 21 Gorffennaf 1964.
Mr Arthur Lewis
, West Ham North
12:00,
21 Gorffennaf 1964
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies whether he will take the necessary action to change the name of his Department to that of Commonwealth Relations and British Protectorates Overseas.
Mr Arthur Lewis
, West Ham North
If the Secretary of State will not agree to the suggestion contained in the Question, will he find some other way of getting rid of the word "Colonies" from his administration? [HON. MEMBERS: "Silly."] It is not silly, because our friends from overseas do not like being called colonials, in view of what has happened in the past. Could not the right hon. Gentleman find another way of describing his Department?
Mr Duncan Sandys
, Wandsworth Streatham
As the House knows, the Commonwealth Relations Office and the Colonial Office are due to be merged as soon as possible after 1st July next year. In the interval, we shall be giving thought to what is the most appropriate name for the combined Department, but I must say straight away that I am not attracted by the hon. Member's suggestion.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
