§ 11. Mr. Pargiterasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what conditions a hard case detainee in Kenya is permitted to qualify for rehabilitation; and on whose authority and on what evidence such decisions are taken.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydRehabilitation is open to all detainees, but the "hard case" or intractable detainees are so called because of their persistent refusal to have anything to do with it. Nevertheless, it is the Kenya Government's policy to offer detainees of this class further opportunities of speeding their release by moving them to camps where there are large numbers of co-operating detainees. In most cases so far, this has resulted in the non-co-operators beginning to work their passage to release through the process of rehabilitation.
§ Mr. PargiterIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that according to The Times this morning, the Governor of Kenya has indicated that there still remain 23,000 of these cases, and that we are now coming, in his words, to the "more difficult characters", and that it is impossible to say whether our present system of release and rehabilitation will continue to be suitable? Will he keep the House informed of any changes in the system, and of such other measures as may be deemed to be desirable in order to deal with these more difficult cases?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIndeed, I will take the House into partnership on every possible occasion. Although it is true that 23,000 are still in detention, it is also true that 45,000 who were in detention have been released.
§ Mr. StonehouseCan the Colonial Secretary give an assurance that when a detainee appeals for release, he may be present throughout the proceedings of the advisory board hearing his case?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWell, Sir, there are some difficulties there; but I will discuss the matter with the Governor, who is now in London.