§ 12. Mr. N. Pannellasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations are being made to the Government of Cyprus for the extradition of Andreas Afamis in connection with inquiries into the shooting of Arthur Lee in 1958.
§ Mr. BraineAs my right hon. Friend stated in his reply on the 22nd June to Questions by the hon. Members for Swindon (Mr. F. Noel-Baker) and Huddersfield, West (Mr. Wade), we are consulting with the Government of Cyprus about the difficulty revealed by the recent abortive extradition proceedings.
§ Mr. PannellDoes not my hon. Friend agree that it is an absurd anomaly that Cypriots can come to this country and enjoy the full rights of citizenship and yet cannot be brought to justice in connection with crimes committed here? If my hon. Friend's representations to the Cyprus Government on this matter fail, will he consult with his Government colleagues with a view to curbing the immigration of Cypriots into this 642 country until the matter is settled to our satisfaction?
§ Mr. BraineAs to the first part of that supplementary question, the difficulty in this case arises from the declaration of rights in the new Constitution, which provides that no Cypriot citizen may be deported in any circumstances. A full and satisfactory solution can clearly only lie in an amendment of the Cyprus Constitution. As to my hon. Friend's last suggestion, immigration to this country is the responsibility of the Home Secretary.
§ Mr. PannellOn a point of order. I put this Question down to the Home Secretary in the first instance and it was transferred to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations. Does this not east discredit on Parliamentary procedure?
§ Mr. SpeakerNo, it does not, because the Question does not refer to immigration.