§ 24. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will have inquiries made into the treatment, at the hands of the police and military, of Mr. George Pratt, general secretary of the War Department Amalgamated Workers Union of Sierra Leone, while he was imprisoned; and what action has now been taken in this case?
§ Sir T. InskipMr. Pratt has been committed to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of false imprisonment, and on 7th March he was admitted to bail. I am informed that while on remand he was never approached or spoken to by any military or police officer and that he had made no complaint, either whilst in prison or since admission to bail. He was seen in prison by two Members of this House who happened to be in Sierra Leone and to them he said that he had received every consideration and that he was well treated. The Acting-Governor is entirely satisfied that the allegations of ill-treatment are without the least foundation, and indeed that they are a deliberate misrepresentation.
§ Mr. GallacherWould the Minister inform us who were the two Members of this House?
§ Sir T. InskipThey were the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. C. Davies) and the hon. and gallant Member for West Birkenhead (Colonel Sandeman Allen).
§ Mr. GallacherIn view of the fact that the Government are liable to get no information or wrong information, is it not possible that my information is more correct?