asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will convene a conference to consider the federation of the islands in the Eastern Caribbean.

I hope that a conference on federation may not be long delayed. For the present I am waiting for the revised draft federal scheme.

When the conference takes place, will the right hon. Gentleman try to ensure that the new Federal Government, if as we hope it develops from the conference, will have sufficient powers at the centre and sufficient sources of federal revenue to ensure that there is not another failure of federation in the West Indies? If as a result of the conference we can get a viable federation, will the Government support it generously with development funds in the critical early period of its existence?

I will certainly bear the hon. Gentleman's points in mind, but I think it would be much better if I waited and saw the federal scheme before anticipating any conclusions.