§ 6. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Lord Privy Seal if he has made any representations to the South African 291 Government concerning the treatment of Mr. Steven Kitson by South African security forces while in detention; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceAs I informed the hon.. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell) on 22 January, the British embassy, on the instructions of my right hon. and noble Friend, drew the attention of the South African Government to Mr. Kitson's allegations of ill-treatment, expressed our concern and asked that the allegations be investigated. We received a reply from the South African Government yesterday, which is now being carefully examined.
§ Mr. DavisWill the Minister give the purport of the reply received from the South African Government? Will he take into account, when assessing the bona fides of the reply, what is currently happening in South Africa? There has been further intimidation, arrests of leading trade unionists—30 of them were arrested recently—detention without trial and all the other miserable apparatus of an evil apartheid regime?
§ Mr. LuceThe South African Government's reply is fairly detailed, since the allegations made by Mr. Steven Kitson about his treatment were quite extensive. It will therefore take time for us to investigate and decide how best to deal with the matter. On the general point, as the hon. Gentleman probably knows, we have repeatedly made statements, incuding those made by our permanent representative at the United Nations and those made on behalf of the Ten in December, that we deplore bannings and detentions and believe that people imprisoned for political reasons should be freed.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonHow could the British consul in Johannesburg give an assurance to the press that Mr. Kitson had not been ill-treated when he knew that Mr. Kitson had been cross-examined for 24 hours with only two short breaks?
§ Mr. LuceOur first concern, when a situation like this develops, is to seek to do the best we can for the individual concerned. Our first priority was to do our best to obtain his release. That was our primary consideration. I am glad that within six days he had been released. Now we are looking at these serious allegations. I have explained what action we are taking.