§ 15. Mr. W. Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decision has been reached by the Government of Sierra Leone on the recent suggestion of the People's National Party that an all-party Parliamentary commission of inquiry should be sent to Kono to investigate the troubles in the diamond mining area.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe view of the Sierra Leone Government is that the improved position in Kono does not warrant the appointment of a Parliamentary commission of inquiry.
§ Mr. GriffithsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the people who live in this district and have lived there all their lives are being deported in large numbers and that their property is being confiscated? Surely this is not a situation likely to bring tranquillity to the worst trouble spot in Sierra Leone? Will not the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the Sierra Leone Government?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIt is, of course, the movement of strangers which is causing the difficulty, and I would call the attention of the hon. Member to what was said on 5th February.
§ 16. Mr. W. Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when cooperative diamond mining will be started in the Lower Bambara Chiefdom in Sierra Leone; and what have been the results of the co-operative pilot study recently started in Kono.
§ Mr. J. AmeryThe timing of the scheme in Bambara depends upon the outcome of the similar scheme in Kono. It is too early as yet to assess the results of this.
§ Mr. GriffithsHas the Minister any information as to the progress of the Kono scheme?