HC Deb 02 August 1956 vol 557 cc1569-70
11. Mr. F. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions have been placed upon the collection of funds by representatives of the Ethnarchy of Cyprus.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. W. F. Deedes)

There is no power to impose special restrictions on such collections, although the general restrictions imposed by law on house to house and street collections would apply.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Does not that Answer, taken with the Answer which I got from the Secretary of State for the Colonies yesterday, making it clear that collection of these funds was also perfectly legal in Cyprus even under the present Defence Regulations, make absolute nonsense of the Home Secretary's excuse for deporting the Archimandrite who was supposed to be collecting these funds for shooting British Service men in the back?

Mr. Deedes

At no time did my right hon. and gallant Friend suggest that the legality or illegality of the Archimandrite's action caused the action which my right hon. and gallant Friend took. My right hon. and gallant Friend took his action because he considered that it was not conducive to the public good that the Archimandrite should be allowed to remain here. The legality of the collection did not arise.