§ 20. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds Mr. Alan Bush was refused permission by the Government of British Guiana to go ashore in order to record folk songs of the territory.
§ 35. Mr. Bairdasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Her Majesty's Governors in Trinidad and British Guiana refused permission for Mr. Alan Bush to land in their territories.
§ Mr. ProfumoMr. Bush was deemed to be an undesirable visitor in both territories under the respective Immigration Ordinance. The Governments concerned are not required to give reasons for this action.
§ Mr. ZilliacusIs it not a fact that there is no right of appeal under the existing immigration restriction order against procedure of this sort? Will not the Government take steps to provide that there should be some right of appeal against arbitrary acts of this kind, which have an awful smell of something like the phone tapping scandal to which we have just listened?
§ Mr. ProfumoNo, Sir. I do not think it has got any smell about it at all, and I am not prepared to take any further action.
§ Mr. BairdThere is a lot of smell about it. This distinguished musician has been found guilty without a trial. Is there no way in which this gentleman can be informed on what ground he has been refused entry into British Guiana? We all know the view of the right hon. Gentleman about Fascism, but in British Guiana the constitution was destroyed, and now that there is to be an election the constituencies have been gerrymandered, and now British subjects have been refused entry.
§ Mr. ProfumoThose must be matters for local people to decide.