HC Deb 11 June 1959 vol 606 cc1157-8
17 and 18. Mr. Foot

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) how many of the persons now detained under the Nyasaland emergency regulations have appealed to the Advisory Committee; how many cases have been adjudicated by the Committee; in how many cases the Committee has recommended release; and how many of such recommendations have been accepted by the Governor;

(2) how many of the persons now detained under the Nyasaland emergency regulations have appealed to the Governor; and how many of such appeals have been allowed, and how many dismissed.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Fifty-six detainees have appealed to the Advisory Committee. The Committee has considered 53 of these cases and has recommended conditional release in 18 of them. The Governor has accepted the Committee's recommendations in 10 cases and six are under consideration. The Governor has had appeals from 152 detainees. Nine of these have been allowed, 44 are under consideration.

Mr. Foot

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure that at the time when detention orders are served on any of the persons detained under Nyasaland regulations they shall be fully informed of their right of appeal to the Governor and to the Advisory Committee?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Yes. I have been particularly anxious that that should be so. All who are in Southern Rhodesian detention from Northern territories have been told in writing of their right of appeal, and all those in Nyasaland have been told orally through camp commandants. I am quite satisfied that everybody knows.

Mr. Foot

Does the right hon. Gentleman also realise that on the detention form served on detainees there is nothing to indicate what are their rights of appeal? Does he not think that the forms might be altered so that detainees could be fully informed of their rights when they are detained?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am very ready to look at that suggestion.

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