HC Deb 23 February 1961 vol 635 cc768-70
12. Mr. Elwyn Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether the Report, in Afrikaans, of the Commission of Inquiry into the Sharpeville shootings in which, among many others, five British-protected persons were killed and seventeen injured by the South African Police, has now been translated; and whether he will place a copy in the Library.

Mr. Sandys

The Report has so far not been translated into English.

Mr. Jones

Can the Minister say why that is not so? I understand that this Report was received at the Commonwealth Relations Office several weeks ago. Does this mean that this important Report has not yet received consideration in the Commonwealth Relations Office, on has the right hon. Gentleman already acquired an easy fluency in Afrikaans?

Mr. Sandys

There is some possibility that the Report will be translated by the Government of South Africa. In any event, it is not our business to translate Government documents from other countries.

Mr. Jones

This is a Report of an inquiry into the circumstances of the killing of a substantial number of British-protected persons, in respect of whom a claim is being made by the Basutoland Government against the South African Government, and I should have thought that Her Majesty's Government would be interested in protecting the rights of British-protected persons and doing something about them.

Mr. Sandys

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the next Question, by himself, on that subject.

13. Mr. Elwyn Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress is being made in regard to the claim lodged by the Basutoland Government against the South African Government for compensation for the British-protected persons killed or wounded at Sharpeville in March, 1960.

Mr. Sandys

The South African Minister of Justice has appointed a committee to investigate claims and information is being supplied to this committee in support of claims for compensation by the Basuto who were affected.

Mr. Jones

As nearly a year has passed since these unfortunate people were killed, many of them shot in the back, is it not high time that these claims were met? Are any arrangements being made for interim payments to the dependants of the victims?

Mr. Sandys

I entirely agree with the hon. and learned Gentleman that the arrangements for meeting these claims have taken a very long time. The Basutoland Government are doing all they can to help these people. They have engaged counsel to help them prosecute their claims and I assure the hon. and learned Gentleman that we are watching the matter closely. The fact that I am not fluent in Afrikaans does not mean that the Report to which reference has been made has not been carefully studied in my Department.

Mr. Marquand

As the right hon. Gentleman is to be represented at the inquiry, will he undertake to report to the House of Commons on the results of the inquiry? By the time he is ready to do that, could he place in the Library the basic document which affects the evidence given at the inquiry?

Mr. Sandys

Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a Question when the time comes, and I will give the House such information as I can.

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