Mr. Michael Faber (Hansard, 24 March 1960)

5. Mr. Storehouse
asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is now able to state the terms of his reply to the protest received by the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations from the Association of Prohibited Immigrants of Rhodesia and Nyasaland with regard to the prohibition of Mr. Michael Faber, a lecturer at Salisbury University, and to the Association's request that a protest be made to the Federal Government.

§ Mr. Alport
The writer of the letter has been informed that my noble Friend cannot comment on a decision of the Immigrants Selection Board of the Federation in a matter which is constitutionally a Federal responsibility; and that he is not aware of any circumstances 645 which would justify an approach to the Federal Government on the lines suggested.

§ Mr. Stonehouse
Is the Minister aware that his feeble use of technical excuses in these matters is becoming quite nauseating? Is he further aware that the growing strength of the association mentioned in the Question is a tribute to the oafish stupidity of Sir Roy Welensky and his colleagues?

§ Mr. Speaker
Even in the most interrogatory form, the hon. Member's question is out of order when he makes references of that kind.

§ Mr. Stonehouse
In the particular case of Mr. Michael Faber, who was—[HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw."] Mr. Speaker, in the case of Mr. Michael Faber—

§ Captain Pilkington
On a point of order. Ought not the hon. Member to withdraw his disgraceful adjective?

§ Mr. Speaker
I think the proper form is that I ought not to have permitted the hon. Member to ask his question further. That is the course which I should have taken.

§ Mr. Thorpe
Arising out of that—

§ Mr. G. Thomas
Further to that point of order—

§ Mr. Speaker
I can deal with only one thing at a time. The sequence is that the original hon. Member is not allowed to ask his supplementary question. I think it conceivable that the hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Thorpe) was rising to ask another question out of the original Question.

§ Mr. Manuel
On a point of order. I think the House should be informed as to which word you thought it was which my hon. Friend used about Sir Roy Welensky which was out of order.

§ Mr. Speaker
I should like to refresh my memory, without wasting time, but there was quite a delightful epithet attached to a word.

§ Mr. Thorpe
Is the Minister aware that this country financed the foundation of Salisbury University on the basis that it should be multi-racial? Is he aware 646 that the present circumstances lead one to think that Mr. Faber was expelled for writing articles which were critical of the Government? Will he take steps to point out to the education authorities, if not to the Prime Minister of the Federation himself, that we look upon this as a gross interference with [he academic freedom of those at the university?

§ Mr. Alport
The university is multiracial. There is no evidence of which I am aware to support the hon. Member's contention. One of the reasons why the Federal Government have stated that they do not wish to intervene in this case is in order not to bring a political factor into the problems of the university.

§ Mr. Marquand
Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that not only the Association of Prohibited Immigrants, but many distinguished professors and others from the University of Oxford, as well as the Association of University Teachers, have protested against this decision, which has caused the resignation or dismissal of a university teacher who did no more than commit some technical offence? Will not the hon. Gentleman indicate the displeasure of Her Majesty's Government at this sort of thing?

§ Mr. Alport
I know perfectly well that there have been protests, but in a free country of this sort any group of indi-duals, however modest or great their situation, are entitled in these circumstances to protest; but the fact of the matter is that in dealing with a matter of this sort the Government must consider the constitutional position and the right of other Governments involved—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. We must get on.

§ Mr. W. Hamilton
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I press further your rather curious Ruling to my hon. Friend the Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse)? You remarked, I think in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr. Manuel), that my hon. Friend the Member for Wednesbury used a rather "delightful epithet", the exact wording of which you could not recollect. It seems a rather curious Ruling—

§ Mr. Speaker
I am afraid that I cannot allow the hon. Member to criticise my Rulings, not from any lack of modesty, but because to do so is out of order, except on the appropriate Motion which, no doubt, the hon. Member will table if he thinks fit. I do not want to be inaccurate about the matter. I think that the phrase used by the hon. Member for Wednesbury was "apish stupidity". I might not be right. The words are within the recollection of the House. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oafish."] I am greatly obliged. In either form, I should have taken the same view about it.

§ Mr. Marquand
On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Answer, I beg to give notice that I shall attempt to raise the matter on the Adjournment.