§ 2.37 p.m.
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they propose (1) to appoint a new Police Commissioner for Singapore, and (2) to publish the report of the Tribunal proceedings subsequent to the Singapore Inquiry Commission.]
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, in answer to the noble Lord's Question, would say that a new Commissioner of Police for Singapore is to be appointed, but a final decision on the officer to be selected will not be made until after the new Governor, Mr. J. F. Nicoll, has arrived in Singapore. With regard to the second part of the Question, the charges preferred against certain police officers, arising from the Report of the Riots Inquiry Commission and the report of the Committee of Inquiry on each individual case, are to be published by the Government of Singapore on March 26, together with an announcement of the decisions Which have been taken.
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, while thanking the noble Marquess the Leader of the House for that Answer, may I ask the following supplementary question? Are Her Majesty's Government aware that the morale of the Singapore Police Force has declined very seriously since the riot last year, and that anything further they can do to help the police put their house in order will be very welcome indeed?
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I hope that what I have said this afternoon will assist towards that end.