§ 39. Mr. Selwyn Gummerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of South 1189 Africa concerning the detention of British subjects without trial.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Joseph Godber)The South African authorities have been told, most recently on 23rd January, that whenever a United Kingdom citizen is arrested and detained we expect that charges should be preferred against him and that he should be brought to trial, or that he should otherwise be speedily released.
§ Mr. Selwyn GummerI thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Has he had his attention drawn to the fact that when the South African Government recently arrested the Dean of Johannesberg, the Dean was not allowed to have a priest for the whole period up to the point at which charges were at long last preferred against him?
§ Mr. GodberI am told that the Dean of Johannesburg was arrested on 20th January and, after representations had been made, was released on bail on 28th January. He will reappear in court on 26th February. I have no details about the precise arrangements made during his detention. Her Majesty's Government made representations as soon as they were aware of the situation.