§ 28. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of political detainees still restricted in Kenya without trial; and how many have been restricted for five years or more.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodOf the persons detained without trial during the Emergency, two remain in detention and forty-four under restriction. The two detainees and forty-three of the others have been held for over five years. Of the persons held in 1960 as a result of Operation Milltown, twenty-five remain under restriction. I should emphasise that all these people are held for security reasons.
§ Mr. StonehouseAre not these figures rather alarming? In view of the fact that they include men who have been acquitted of all charges made against them, and in view of the improved situation in Kenya, will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether they can all be released forthwith?
§ Mr. MacleodI should have thought that the right deduction from these figures was that there has been a remarkable reduction over the figures that my predecessors and I have had to give the House since the beginning of the emergency, some time ago.