HC Deb 28 February 1940 vol 357 cc2054-5
34. Mr. Paling

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to inform the House what actions, prejudicial to the safety of the public, Mr. Wallace Johnson was, at the time of his internment, suspected of intending to commit; and whether he has yet received information as to the standard of living in the camp where Mr. Johnson is interned; and whether he is allowed to receive books and papers?

Mr. M. MacDonald

As regards the first part of the Question, I am not in a position to add anything to the answers which I gave to Questions by the hon. Member on 8th November last. As regards the second and third parts of the Question, the scale of diet in the internment camp is the same as that laid down for British troops in West Africa, and on the information before me I have no reason to think that in other respects the conditions of the camp are not satisfactory. During his detention in the camp, Mr. Johnson was accorded the same treatment as the other persons there interned and was allowed to receive letters, parcels and papers, and presumably books as well.

Mr. Paling

In cases like this, where people are detained, is there any intention of reviewing the circumstances of the case, or is it intended to keep them there until the end of the war—particularly in cases like this, where they were detained on such trivial accusations?

Mr. MacDonald

I cannot accept the last part of the hon. Member's comment, but certainly these cases will be reviewed from time to time.

Mr. Paling

But is there any machinery for reviewing them? Does the machinery operate? If not, how are these people to have an opportunity of securing a review?

Mr. MacDonald

It is a matter for the discretion of the Governor and the Secretary of State, and I can assure the hon. Member that both of us do intend to review cases like this—there are very few of them—from time to time.

Mr. Creech Jones

When Wallace Johnson is released from prison—he is not in a camp at the present time—is it the intention to transfer him from prison to a detention camp?

Mr. MacDonald

I cannot anticipate what the decision will be. One will have to consider the whole case when the time arrives. At present, as the hon. Member says, he is serving a term of imprisonment after conviction on another charge altogether.