§ 32. Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in how many Colonial Territories a state of emergency 235 has been declared since October, 1951; and in how many political leaders have been imprisoned, detained or interned.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIn thirteen territories or parts of territories, a number of them being due to inter-tribal troubles and many of them concerned with relatively minor disturbances.
No person is imprisoned save after conviction by the ordinary process of the criminal law for a criminal offence. Moreover, in no case has action been taken against a person for legitimate political activity. Powers of detention have only been used where it has been necessary, by reason of the other activities of the persons concerned, to exercise control over them for the purpose of securing or maintaining public order.
§ Mr. HaleDoes not the right hon. Gentleman know that this is the second successive Question which he has failed to answer? He is not asked about the normal processes of criminal law, but about people being detained without trial. Has not this happened under his rule in Colony after Colony, and is it not causing concern, both in our international relations and in the Commission on Human Rights, which body the right hon. Gentleman promised that the Declaration of Human Rights would be applied to the Colonies?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNo, Sir; that is indeed not true. With regard to the second part of the supplementary question, I was asked to specify how many times people had been arrested or detained because of their political views. I have explained in my Answer that it is impossible to distinguish that, because they have not been detained for their political views, but for other reasons. In regard to the number of disturbances, I ask the hon. Gentleman to address himself to the very large number of states of emergency under previous Administrations, which shows that this problem is common to all Governments in the United Kingdom.