§ 53. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the arrangements for the inspection of conditions in the detention camps of Kenya; if he will state the number of the camps; the number of detainees; the number of those so far released; and the number of Government inspectors for these camps to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydOn 30th April, 1956, 41,772 persons were detained under Emergency Regulations in 51 detention and works camps. At that date, 27,046 detainees had been released since the beginning of the emergency. The arrangements for inspection of these camps, which are frequently visited by Ministers, heads of Departments and district commissioners, are based on inspection committees of which eight have been appointed by the Governor and another will be appointed shortly. These committees are required to visit the camp or camps in respect of which they have been constituted at least once a month and to hear any complaint, other than on the validity of a detention order, which a detainee may wish to make.
§ Mr. JohnsonWhilst thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that Answer, may I ask if he is aware of the serious allegation made by Miss Fletcher, who is a Quaker and a former civil servant of the Kenya Government and has worked in these camps for at least twelve months? Would he confirm or deny what has been made public in well-known newspapers, and also consider appointing Her Majesty's Inspectors to investigate these camps and perhaps give us a little more light on the alleged conditions?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI read the article the moment it appeared and immediately telegraphed its contents to Kenya and asked for comments on it. I would say to all those people who are ready to make sweeping allegations that it might be more helpful if they would contact me or my Department in regard to individual incidents so that we can find out the facts 241 in particular cases. None the less, I recognise that when charges are made it is up to me to answer them. I would also ask the House not to rush to hasty conclusions until it has heard detailed answers to detailed charges.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydDuring the Recess when I read the article in a newspaper not unknown to the right hon. Member.
§ Mr. BevanIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the statements that were published in that article were published some time ago?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am very surprised if it is a fact that that particular newspaper or periodical only publishes information which has already appeared elsewhere. I took that article as being a serious statement and immediately asked for confirmation or comment on the facts in it.
§ Mr. BevanIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that public opinion is shocked by these statements and will be further shocked by the flippancy of the answers he has been giving? We are really concerned about establishing the facts here, and we are in fact postponing judgment until the facts have been confirmed, but surely has not the Department of the right hon. Gentleman been rather remiss in not knowing that these statements were made a very considerable time ago? Is not his office responsible for this delay?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe right hon. Member knows perfectly well that if at any time he or anybody with whom he is in contact has any particular statement or charges to make he has only to 242 approach me or my right hon. Friend and immediate investigation will be made. All I ask is that comment should be reserved until there has been an opportunity to reply.
Mr. DugdaleIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these reports first appeared in the Quaker newspaper Peace News—I do not think he is referring to that? Did the Minister make inquiries as soon as it was published, as it was published a considerable time before?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe particular complaints to which I think the questions have been related have recently appeared in adequate detail in order to be able to identify them and to know to what they refer. As soon as I have the answer I will give it. If right hon. and hon. Gentlemen are more concerned about eliciting the facts than making political points, they had better await it.
§ Mr. BevanIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is the function of this House to elicit facts of this sort? Is he not aware that it is the duty of hon. Members of this House to educate public opinion on the facts when they are established, and is he not also aware that he is himself getting a very bad reputation in this matter?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Look at the clock.