§ 31. Mr. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the resentment that has been aroused as a result of British civil servants in Cyprus having been compelled to give their finger prints ; and what consideration has been given to the representations made and with what result.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI have received representations about this on behalf of certain civil employees in Cyprus. After consulting the Governor, I have concluded that there are no grounds for exempting these civil servants from the Cyprus Emergency Regulations concerning identity cards, under which finger prints are required.
§ Mr. DoddsWill the right hon. Gentleman explain why civil servants and their families, who have gone there to help in the work of the defence forces, are required to have their finger prints taken when the defence forces do not, and was there any consultation with them, because people do not like finger prints taken ; and what is to happen to the finger prints when these people leave Cyprus and return here?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI understand that the duplicate finger prints will be kept for one year and then destroyed, except where the person concerned is banished, repatriated or deported. I must say generally about finger prints that I have very rarely had much sympathy with British subjects serving overseas who object to giving them when we are forced by local circumstances to take them from the people who live in the territories concerned.