Britain has no plans to examine arrangements for its overseas territories to be directly represented in that country's parliament, a junior minister told the House of Commons this week.

Sally Keeble, the Under-secretary of State for International Development, was asked whether the colonies, now known as Overseas Territories, should not be given "proper representation".

"The Secretary of State will be aware that, in the main, these territories do not want independence. They want to be treated like grown-ups," said Henry Bellingham, MP for North-West Norfolk.

"Has not the time come to look at the French solution, whereby we would integrate them into Britain and give them proper representation here and in Europe ?"

Ms Keeble said the issue of parliamentary representation had not been the Labour Government's policy.

"At present there are no prospects of looking at that. It is, however, a responsibility of... the Foreign Secretary."