COLONIAL PRISONERS REMOVAL ACT, 1869

HC Deb 25 July 1960 vol 627 cc1064-5

19. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will introduce legislation to remove the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act, 1869, from the Schedule of Acts to which the Foreign Jurisdiction Acts, 1890 to 1913, can be applied.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

No, Sir.

Mr. Warbey

Is the Foreign Secretary aware that the recent decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council that the three Bahreinis are legally detained in St. Helena is based purely on the ipse dixit of the Foreign Secretary that he has jurisdiction over Bahreini citizens for this purpose, and will not he remove this blot from the British Statute Book and thereby make it impossible for a British Government to repeat this perversion of justice by which these men are detained in St. Helena?

Mr. Lloyd

I do not accept anything of what the hon. Member says. I am told also, although this matter chiefly concerns my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the extension of the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act, 1869, under the Foreign Jurisdiction Acts is desirable for the proper care and custody of prisoners in a number of territories.