§ 25. Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of the Government to appoint a commission to inquire thoroughly into the events leading up to the recent riots in Cyprus and also to assess the manner by which those concerned should be made to pay for the damage to personal and public property which has resulted therefrom?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)A Commission consisting of the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General was appointed by the Governor of Cyprus at the beginning of November to inquire into and report upon the facts immediately surrounding the destruction of Government House and of the Commissioner's house at Limassol, and to assess the value of private property destroyed. This inquiry was completed at the end of November, and I do not propose to appoint a further commission to inquire into these matters.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEMy right hon. Friend's answer was somewhat difficult to follow, but I gather that the Commission has reported. If so, I shall be glad to know if the report is to be published?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIt is a report to the Governor of Cyprus.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEIs it not possible for the House to be informed of the contents of the report?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think the House has been substantially informed of the contents of the report in the various statements which have been made, but I will took at the document to see whether it could conveniently be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. HOLFORD KNIGHTOn a point of Order. These benches heard nothing of that conversation.
§ 26. Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons were deported from the island of Cyprus as a result of the recent riots; and whether before deportation any sentences of imprisonment were enforced?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERTen persons were deported from Cyprus as a result of the recent riots. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the negative.
§ 27. Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many insurgents in connection with the recent riots in Cyprus have been tried; how many have been sentenced; how many have appealed; and what number of cases are still on remand?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe following are the latest figures supplied by the Governor regarding the number of trials and convictions in connection with the recent riots in Cyprus:
| Persons tried | … | 2,952 |
| Persons convicted | … | 2,679 |
| Successful appeals | … | Nil |
| Unsuccessful appeals | … | 22 |
| Appeals pending | … | 7 |
§ 304 persons are still on remand
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEWill my right hon. Friend take steps to see that, if any person in the employment of the Government of Cyprus in any capacity was concerned in the recent riots, that person will not again be employed in any capacity?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have no reason to suppose that there was any person in the Government service who was in any way implicated. On the contrary, all my information is that not only all the Government servants but a great many other people rendered loyal service. 837 I am certain that if there was such a case, the Governor would already have dealt with it.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman's reply include school teachers, although I think, nominally speaking, they are not in the Government service
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI was asked in what was a supplementary question about persons in the Government service, and I think I ought to have notice of that question.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESIn view of the large number of people involved, does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that it is in the highest degree desirable that the report should be available at the earliest possible moment?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe report is not a report about persons tried and convicted. It is a report made by the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General about the destruction of Government property, but certainly I will see whether a copy can be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. BUCHANANBefore the right hon. Gentleman starts to interfere with any State servants, will he see two things —first of all, that the courts give them a proper trial, and, secondly, that they are found guilty before the right hon. Gentleman takes any action against them?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERObviously, the course taken is shown by the answer which I have given. The persons who were concerned in these matters were brought before the courts.