Written question asked by Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) on Thursday, 11 June 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 June 2009. It was answered by Chris Bryant (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 June 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Devolution

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek the addition of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to the UN's list of territories in the process of decolonisation.

Answer: The arrangements of Chapter XI of the UN Charter (Declaration regarding Non-Self Governing Territories) relate to former colonies for the purposes of domestic and international law. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are part of the UK. As far as the overseas territories are concerned we remain committed to modernising our relationship with them, while fully taking into account the views of the peoples of the Territories. We believe the decision as to whether a non-self-governing territory has reached a level of self-government sufficient to relieve the administering power of the obligation to submit information under Article 73e of the Charter is ultimately for the government of the territory and the administering power concerned and not the UN General Assembly.

Secondary information