HC Deb 15 April 1958 vol 586 cc17-8
22. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many British Service men and civilians and Cypriot Service men and civilians have been killed in Cyprus since 1st January, 1958.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Eleven Cypriot civilians. No British Service men, police or civilians and no Cypriot Service men or police have been killed.

Mr. Wall

Do these figures represent an improvement on the past two years? Could my right hon. Friend say how many of the woundings were caused by right-wing Greek-speaking Cypriots against left-wing Greek-speaking Cypriots and vice versa?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The situation has undoubtedly deteriorated in the last few weeks. Four of those killed were Greek Cypriot civilians who were shot by other Greek Cypriots, and over the whole period of the trouble 265 people have been killed, of whom 142 were Greek Cypriots killed by other Greek Cypriots.

Mr. Callaghan

Whilst we are glad to learn the Colonial Secretary acknowledges that the situation is deteriorating in Cyprus—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] We are glad to have his acknowledgment of it. As the Colonial Secretary will know, we have been telling him this for some time. May we be told by the Colonial Secretary what is the Government's policy that will make it possible to bring to an end the state of emergency and to encourage constitutional development in this island, and when can we expect it to be implemented?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As I have already told the hon. Member, as soon as I can make a profitable statement I will gladly do so.

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