HC Deb 23 July 1959 vol 609 cc1504-5
51. Mrs. White

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he will publish the Fairn Committee's report on the administration of detention camps in Kenya.

56. Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the report of the commission appointed to make recommendations as to the future administration of detention and prison camps in Kenya will be published.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Copies will be made available to Parliament as soon as the report is published in Kenya. This will be about the middle of August. The Fairn Committee discussed some of their principal recommendations with the Governor before they had completed their report, and an indication of these is contained in the Command Paper, which will be available later today.

Mrs. White

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this report was in the hands of the Governor of Kenya on 7th July, and that what he said about the other reports is equally applicable to this one in that many Members of this House regard this as an important report on fundamental matters concerning these camps and feel that they should have a chance to question him and debate the matter before the House rises? Or is the right hon. Gentleman telling the House that he has been made so "punch drunk" by the other two reports that he cannot stand this one?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I can assure the hon. Lady that the last suggestion is not true. This report to the Governor of Kenya will be published along with the Governor's considered comments. It deals with long-term policy, and not even to satisfy the hon. Lady can I overlook the fact that it demands serious consideration.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman arrange for its printing and publication in Kenya, in view of the fact that the report was presented to the Governor on 7th July?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

It will be printed in Kenya with the comments of the Governor of Kenya.