HC Deb 10 June 1958 vol 589 cc11-2
18. Mrs. Castle

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the sentences of whipping passed on Stephen Rise Mpande, Santi Meleki and Stanley Jeremiah, at Lusaka in January were carried out by instalments; and, since this is contrary to Section 27 (g) of the Penal Code of Northern Rhodesia, whether he will take steps to ensure that the law is enforced in future.

Mr. Profumo

The hon. Member has been misinformed. None of these sentences was carried out in instalments and there was no infringement of the law.

Mrs. Castle

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that if I have been misinformed I have been misinformed by his right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary, who replied to me on these cases on 24th April when I was pointing out that an excessive number of strokes was being administered? In his reply, the Colonial Secretary said: At the time of the intervention eight strokes were still due to be inflicted on Stephen Rice Mpande, eleven on Santi Meleki and nine on Stanley Jeremiah."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 24th April, 1958; Vol. 586, c. 94.] In view of this, is it not clear that we are constantly being fobbed off in this House with inaccurate replies? Instead of giving slick answers, will not the hon. Gentleman get down to the job of seeing that the penal code is enforced?

Mr. Profumo

I am sorry that the hon. Lady does not like my answers, but I have told her the truth. If she looks at her Question, she will see that I have answered it. The hon. Lady was misinformed. The sentences were not carried out in instalments. No further instalments were administered and the law has not been infringed.