HC Deb 19 May 1960 vol 623 cc1473-4
31. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations why a letter written on 12th February by Dr. Hastings Banda in Gwelo Prison, passed by the prison authorities on 13th February and sent by air mail shortly afterwards, did not reach the hon. Member for Willesden, West, until 11th April, 1960.

The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. Richard Thompson)

The dispatch of correspondence of persons detained in the Federation is a matter for the Federal Government; so are the postal services in the Federation. The inquiries which have been made have not so far disclosed the reason for the delay described by the hon. Member. If he will send me the envelope I will make further inquiries.

Mr. Pavitt

Cannot the Minister use his influence to make sure that we do not have this kind of action again on the part of the Federal Government? Is it not intolerable that Dr. Banda's thanks to the people of Willesden for shoals of Christmas cards should be delayed for three months? Does it harm the Federal Government that Dr. Banda should write: I spent the happiest days of my life both as a doctor and as a man in Willesden and: I made me very happy to receive so many cards from the people of the borough"—

Mr. Speaker

Order, Extensive quotation in a supplementary question is out of order.