HC Deb 18 May 1949 vol 465 c426
46. Commander Noble

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is aware that the Crown cannot be sued in the Courts of the Federation of Malaya unless the immunity is waived; and what special arrangements are being made for appeals against decisions of Service Departments with regard to goods requisitioned for purposes of denial.

Mr. Alexander

I am advised that the answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." I regret that the statement made in the last sentence of my reply to the hon. and gallant Member's Question of 27th April was based on inaccurate information supplied to me. The hon. and gallant Member has written to me on the subject as recently as 9th May, and I hope to let him have an answer to the intricate questions he raises reasonably soon.

Commander Noble

Will the Minister give an assurance that this matter will he gone into fully, because many people are worried about it in Malaya and, as he is no doubt aware, it was the information given on the previous occasion which prompted me to put down another Question.

Mr. Alexander

I am glad of the opportunity of being able to correct that position but the real matter raised by the hon. and gallant Member and some of his Friends is a legal question, and falls more within the province of my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary. I will bring to the notice of my right hon. Friend what the hon. and gallant Member now says at the same time as I go into the points raised in his letter.