§ 12. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what newspapers and books are now allowed to Dr. Banda.
§ Mr. AlportThis is a matter within the responsibility of the Federal Government.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Minister really know anything about it? Can he enlighten us? Can he assure us that British newspapers of today's date, carrying a speech by the Prime Minister made in Africa, are freely available to Dr. Banda? Is the right hon. Gentleman afraid that Dr. Banda might think that the Minister responsible for 1196 Commonwealth Relations and the Prime Minister are in different Governments?
§ Mr. AlportI would assure the hon. Member that there are virtually no restrictions upon material of this sort which is available to Dr. Banda other than those advocating, or which may appear to advocate, violence or subversion. I am quite certain the hon. Member, who knows my right hon. Friend very well, would not regard anything he has said as advocating either.
§ Sir L. Ungoed-ThomasIs not Dr. Banda a British-protected person of Nyasaland? Therefore, is not the Colonial Secretary responsible for him? Will not the right hon. Gentleman see that Dr. Banda obtains what books are required instead of handing it over to Sir Roy Welensky to decide these matters?
§ Mr. AlportIt is not a question of my right hon. Friend handing anything over at all. This relates to Item 60, Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution—the concurrent list—in which responsibility for prisons is that of the Federation, and in these circumstances this is not a question of any administrative arrangement between any particular Governments but a question of the Federal Constitution.