§ 18. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Clause 8 (3) of the Riot Damages Ordinance in Northern Rhodesia has been deleted.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodSection 8 (3) has been repealed because it was realised that the fact that a prosecution had been brought was irrelevant for the purposes of this legislation, which is to provide compensation for those who suffer damage in a riot.
§ Mr. StonehouseAre we to understand from that reply that in the case of a riot, even when a prosecution has been pursued and certain people have been found guilty of the so-called riot, those found not guilty will have penalties imposed on them as well?
§ Mr. MacleodNo, indeed. What the hon. Gentleman fails to understand is that when this legislation was first drafted, without experience of these things, in, I think, 1955, a wholly unnecessary provision was included which is now being repealed. There is nothing more mysterious in it than that.