§ 44. Mr. Fenner Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Her Majesty's Government have authorised the whipping of boys under sixteen years of age in Cyprus for attending unauthorised meetings; and for what other offences this punishment can be ordered.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydUnder the Cyprus Law relating to juvenile offenders, which dates from 1946, a male juvenile between seven and fourteen years of age coming before the court for offences may be punished by whipping. What was done in the present Emergency Regulations was to raise the age up to under eighteen 1192 for offences against security under the Regulations. As I said in the House last week, there are cases where it is far more appropriate than fines paid by the parents, or imprisonment. The details of the offences punishable are given in the Emergency Regulations, of which I have had copies placed in the Library.
§ Mr. BrockwayDoes the right hon. Gentleman know of the deep shame which many of us feel towards the application of these methods in Cyprus which are more associated with Hitler and General Franco?
§ Mr. S. SilvermanHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the speech made by the Prime Minister two days ago in which he said that the difference between British colonialism and Communist colonialism was that in our Colonies people had freedom to fight and freedom to argue? Are we to regard his answer to this Question as an example of that freedom?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI hope that the hon. Gentleman will use his influence in Cyprus or elsewhere—
§ Mr. SilvermanAnswer the question.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd—to prevent—
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd—abuse of the freedom of which my right hon. Friend spoke.