§ 39 and 40. Mr. W. Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) why British students awarded travelling scholarships are now subjected to political screening before being granted permission to enter the Colonies; and how many students have been excluded since December, 1951;
(2) whether he is aware that Mr. Ronald Frankenburg, a graduate of Cambridge and Manchester universities, who was awarded a Nuffield Foundation Grant to do research in the West Indies, was refused permission to land after being earlier given permission; and why Mr. Frankenburg was refused admission on grounds of security.
§ Mr. LytteltonMost Colonial Governments have statutory powers to control entry into their territories. It is for them to decide who may enter, in the light of their responsibilities for the welfare and good government of the peoples in their charge. I cannot say how many British students have been refused entry without inquiry with which I should be reluctant to trouble 35 Administrations. I regret that Mr. Frankenburg was erroneously told he had permission to work in St. Vincent. The decision to refuse him entry was taken by the Government of the Windward Islands, and I see no reason to intervene.
§ Mr. GriffithsSurely, the Colonial Secretary is neglecting his duty when he says that he will not make inquiries concerning how many British students have been refused admission? May I refer 2036 him to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday when he said that this is still a free country? Let him act up to this principle. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Frankenburg was told—and the right hon. Gentleman has repeated the reason —that he was refused admission because he was a bad security risk? What is meant by a "bad security risk"? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we on this side of the House consider that he is a very bad security risk, but we say why?
§ Mr. LytteltonMy answer to the question put to me by the hon. Member —although he added some other gratuitous information of his own—is that I have to judge whether the strain put on this Administration in getting the statistics is justified or not. I will endeavour to meet the hon. Gentleman as far as I can without carrying these inquiries too far.
§ Mr. GriffithsIs not Mr. Frankenburg entitled to know the charge being made against him? Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that this smear, without being specified and without giving this constituent of mine a chance to answer it, may possibly the man's whole career?
§ Mr. LytteltonNo charge has been preferred against Mr. Frankenburg. His entry in certain cases has been refused.