§ 47. Mr. Awberyasked the Prime Minister the future policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to collective punishment in Cyprus; if he is aware that the dismissal of over 4,000 Cypriots will inflict great hardship upon the innocent as well as the guilty; what steps are being taken to provide for the families of the unemployed; and whether he will take steps to withdraw this instruction and punish only those who are found guilty of any crime.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I said on 12th November, we have no desire to resort to punitive retaliatory measures against the population as a whole. The decision to dismiss Cypriots employed in miltary installations and camps was taken not as a punitive but as a security measure. When conditions allow, the Service authorities will be glad to renew the opportunities of good and steady employment for their Cypriot staff. Cypriot employees of the Royal Air Force are to receive redundancy terms; others are the responsibility of N.A.A.F.I. and contractors. There is a social insurance scheme in the island making provision for unemployment and other benefits.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Prime Minister aware that a very large number of the 4,000 men who have been thrown out of employment are innocent, and that we are adopting a vicious policy of punishing 1011 innocent people for the guilty? Will he see that those who are thrown out of employment get as much assistance as they can from their unemployment schemes?
§ The Prime MinisterIn answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I must repeat what I said before I even knew that this decision had been taken—we have no intention of taking general punitive retaliatory measures. Therefore, I repudiate his suggestion that this is a vicious attack on the population. We have a duty to defend military installations and Royal Air Force installations—where there have been some serious incidents—and all the valuable property there assembled. We also have a duty, and the N.A.A.F.I. has a duty, to protect the people who use its camps. I hope the House will accept that this was done with great reluctance to protect lives, and not in any way to make a punitive reply to the population.
§ Mr. BevanAs this may result in the concentration of a considerable number of unemployed people for a considerable length of time, may I ask whether the Prime Minister has given consideration to the provision of alternative employment, in order to try to reduce any dissatisfaction so far as possible?
§ The Prime MinisterI think we can reply on the Governor, who is very well seized with this matter, to do all in his power. Of course, I devoutly hope for the cessation of terrorism which would be much the easiest method by which these people could be re-employed.