HC Deb 11 June 1959 vol 606 cc1156-7
12. Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements for accommodation were made by his officers for counsel who appeared on behalf of the Nyasaland detainees before the Devlin Commission.

Mr. J. Amery

None. Sir, nor did counsel request such assistance.

Mr. Brockway

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that one of the counsel, a barrister from Ghana, was refused accommodation in all the hotels in a town in Southern Rhodesia, when he sought to visit prisons? Is it not the duty of the Government to give aid to counsel engaged on behalf of the Nyasaland detainees?

Mr. Amery

The hon. Member surely knows enough about the position not to put a question to us about Southern Rhodesia.

Mr. Bottomley

While bearing in mind that it is; not the kind of question to put to the Minister, the hon. Gentleman says that there is a partnership in Southern Rhodesia. Why does he not illustrate that by protesting strongly against this discrimination between European and African lawyers?