HC Deb 30 June 1959 vol 608 cc226-7
28. Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he now expects the report of the Devlin Commission to be published.

72. Mr. Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet received the Report of the Devlin Commission of Inquiry into the recent disturbances in Nyasaland.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I have not yet received the Report. I hope to receive it about the middle of July and it will be published as soon as possible thereafter.

Mr. Stonehouse

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance to the House that when the Report of the Commission is published Dr. Hastings Banda and the other detainees will either have charges brought against them or be released?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I shall certainly await the publication of the Report before making any statement about what I shall do after its publication.

Mr. Dugdale

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the Report will not be delayed so that it is too late to discuss it in this House before the Summer Recess?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

That is certainly not the practice of this Government.