18. Mrs. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what inquiries have been held into allegations of improper treatment of detainees at Kanjedza, Nyasaland; and if he will make a statement.
§ 27. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made by the Nyasaland Government for the inspection by prison visitors or other independent persons of the detention camp at Kanjedza; how many such visits to the camp have so far been made; and what facilities are provided for detainees to make complaints to such visitors in the absence of camp officials.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWith regard to the first part of the Question of the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) I can only add, in amplification of the reply given to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 30th June, that, in addition to the visit of a Red Cross delegate, three visits have been made by visiting justices, and also many visits at different times by Press representatives. There have also been at least four visits of inspection by ministers of religion, in addition to pastoral visits made on one afternoon every week, which are themselves additional to private visits and Sunday services.
The visiting justices, the Red Cross delegate and the ministers on formal inspection have heard complaints privately. No difficulties are placed in the way of detainees wishing to make private complaints to recognised visitors on inspections, and no such request has ever been refused.
In order to examine the administration and conditions at Kanjedza, a Commission of Inquiry is shortly to be appointed by the Federal Government, in consultation with the Nyasaland Government.
Mrs. WhiteCan the right hon. Gentleman say what arrangements there are for liaison with the Federal Government? Is he aware that there are people in this House who are disturbed at the reports we have had about conditions in this camp? As it appears, from the Answer to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond), to be a Federal 1090 responsibility, can the right hon. Gentleman say how our responsibilities are carried out?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThere is close liaison in this matter. It is a Federal responsibility but naturally the territorial Government have a close interest here and the very fact that I have just announced that a Commission of Inquiry will be appointed by the Federal Government in consultation with the Nyasaland Government shows not only a desire to make sure that everything is being run properly but also a recognition of the joint interest of the two Governments in proper conditions.
§ Mr. BrockwayHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the report in Dissent, a periodical published by moderate Europeans in Central Africa, regarding the conditions in this detention camp? Is he aware that that report shows that detainees were chained together and kept for eight hours with their hands on their heads sitting on the floor against a wall, and that after those eight hours they were compelled to spend the rest of the night chained together sleeping on a cement floor? Is not this a disgrace to British civilisation and ought not the right hon. Gentleman to do something to stop these conditions in our detention camps?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think it would be very unfortunate if the hon. Gentleman tried to give the public the impression that anything he happens to read in any periodical of any kind is necessarily true. I have announced the steps that have been taken—the many visits of ministers of religion and others, the visit of a Red Cross delegate, and the impending Commission of Inquiry. I, for one, with a sense of responsibility, would rate their opinions far above a report in a sheet, a very obscure sheet, which the hon. Gentleman trots out as though it were the Gospel truth.